Just back from Morocco!

Thank you very much to all of you who sponsered our climb. 

Having seen how poor the village schools in the Berber mountains, we would very pleased if any more of you could sponsor us.

Did we make it?  Well kind of.

As planned, we flew to Malaga, stayed with Emma & Alan, caught the European final in an Estepona bar (I was almost alone in cheering Barca - everyone else was English, from Madrid, or locals who don't like the Catalans.)  

We crossed the straights of Gibraltar, and got the train all the way from Tangier to Marakech (recommended for the railway anoraks).

After 2 nights in Marrakech we went on a 4 day walk to get fit & accutomed to the altitude.  We joined a trek with 2 lovely Norwegian women and our own guide and muleteer / cook and had a great trip. 

But  - the evening before the ascent of Toubkal I missed a step in the dark and broke a small bone in my foot.  So Celia went up to the top - through rain, hail & deep snow in Morocco - without me.  But I did go up to the mountain refuge on a mule, which was fine but the descent, holding on to the point of nearly fainting with gorges to the side, was a journey from hell.     

Michael 

 

The original bit

Last year Celia & I went to Morocco & stayed in the Kasbah Toubkal in the High Atlas - http://www.kasbahdutoubkal.com/home.html .     
 
We were very impressed by the charity that Mike McHugh, the English guy who restored the Kasbah, has set up to provide opportunities for secondary education for girls from poor families in the mountains - http://www.efamorocco.org/index.html . 
 
Because we'd run out of cash by the time we left the Kasbah (& were annoyed by a Scottish couple who said it was a waste of time educating girls because there were no jobs for them & they'd only get married!) when we got back I went on line to make a small donation.  I read about last year's charity ascent of Toubkal & emailed Mike to ask if it would be repeated in 2011.  He emailed back asking when we could make it - so its June 4 & 5 http://www.efamorocco.org/get-involved/events/toubkal-ascent.html . 

We'll be walking up Toubkal - 4,165 m (13,665 feet in old money), the highest mountain in North Africa, and staying in a refuge at 3,200 m on the way up. 
 
We are planning to fly to Malaga, stay with Emma & Alan in Spain, take the ferry across from Algeciras to Tangier and then the Marrakesh Express down to Marrakesh & the mountains. We're also planning an (only slightly demanding) 3 day trek beforehand to get used to the altitiude.    
 
Very best wishes, Michael & Celia 

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