THE HIGH ATLAS
TREKS AND CLIMBS ON MOROCCO’S BIGGEST AND BEST MOUNTAINS
by
Hamish Brown
2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA, LA7 7PY
About the Author
Hamish Brown is a professional writer and photographer specialising in mountain, outdoor and travel topics, topography, prehistoric sites, historical interests and travel worldwide. He has written or edited over 20 books, ranging from poetry (his own and anthologies) and short stories to narratives on major expeditions (the Munros in a single trip, the Groat's End Walk, the Atlas End to End). He has also appeared on radio and television and is a popular lecturer.
Hamish was awarded an MBE and a fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in 2000, and has an Honorary D.Litt from St Andrew's University and a doctorate from the Open University.
The author’s well-illustrated guidebooks cover the Fife Coastal Path, walks in Fife, the Edinburgh–Glasgow canals, and Scottish gravestones, and he wrote the mountain chapters of the Rough Guide to Morocco. He has edited two books on the writings and photography of Seton Gordon and is working on a similar volume of Tom Weir’s work, as well as two lavish volumes on Scottish oddities.
He first spent three months in the Atlas in 1965, something he has gone on to do almost every year since. In over fifty visits he has a unique knowledge of the mountains that are enthusiastically described in this book.
© Hamish Brown 2012
First edition 2012
ISBN: 978 1 85284 671 8
Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
For El Aouad Ali, who was on so many of the best ventures, and Aït Idir Mohammed, forty years a mainstay and who made his home ours.
Warning
Mountaineering and mountain walking can be dangerous activities carrying a risk of personal injury or death. They should be undertaken only by those with a full understanding of the risks and with the training and experience to evaluate them. While every care and effort has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the user should be aware that conditions can be highly variable and can change quickly, materially affecting the seriousness of a mountain expedition. Therefore, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law, neither Cicerone nor the author accept liability for damage of any nature (including damage to property, personal injury or death) arising directly or indirectly from the information in this book.
Advice to Readers
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. If we know of any, there will be an Updates tab on this book’s page on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Roads are being upgraded or built constantly in the Atlas. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.
Front cover: Fazaz (Route 5)
Facing page: On the Tizi n’ Test road
Back cover: Looking to the Tichka Plateau, Western Atlas
CONTENTS
Geography and climate of the High Atlas
Getting there and getting around
MIDDLE ATLAS AND EASTERN HIGH ATLAS
2 Jbel bou Naceur, Moussa ou Salah and Jbel bou Iblane
