On the Roof of North Africa

Climbing Mt. Toubkal – the highest peak in North Africa at 4165 m, or 13665 ft – has been on Rod, Sam, Cath and my to-do list since we arrived nearly a year ago. We squeezed it in at Sam and Rod's last possible moment, making the trip south in the middle of August. As it turns out, access to the mountain is totally straightforward: several-hour train ride to Marrakesh, an hour-long wiiiinding grand taxi ride to the tiny town of Imlil and we were good to go.

Most people take two days to climb Toubkal. The itinerary is to hike in ten kilometers to a sort of auberge/refuge on the first day, then rise early to climb the uber-steep four or five kilometers to the summit and trek back out on the second. For whatever reason, our group decided to do it in one day. Okay, I decided we should do it in one day. The good news is that we made it! The downside is that none of us were in our best condition and this beast of a mountain had us puffing and aching the whole way. Most importantly, though, the weather was beautiful and the company was excellent. Plus, check out the views...

The early morning departure took us past a village perched over a rocky flood plain.

Special appearance by Rosalind Chaplin, a friend from Middlebury!
What better way to kick off her ten-day visit?

Made it!
(The absent Catherine has plans to climb in October.)

Think that's Ethiopia – the closest site of a higher mountain – in the distance?