Hi, just found this thread. I'm looking at booking accommodation in Imlil on 18 March, and then beginning a two day trek up Toubkal on 19 March. Bit of a tight schedule, so pretty much need to be specific to these dates.

I am travelling alone - is it likely that I will find other groups doing the trek on that specific day, that a single traveller can join up with, or would this kind of arrangement best be organised before the journey? If not, would it work out expensive to do this alone? I imagine I would need a guide, mule, overnight accom in a refuge, and whatever equipment besides walking boots and clothes would be necessary at this time of year...

Really grateful for any advice that can be given...

Thanks in advance!

What's the mule going to do? Mules are expensive as they come with a mulateeer, and a mulateer isn't a guide, they are separate.

Travel light with 35-litre rucksac, then you don't need a mule. Get a guide book then you don't need a guide: amazon.co.uk/Moroccan-Atlas-Trekking-Alan-Pa…

If, of course, you are not happy with the solo approach, then investigate joining an organised trip from Marrakech.

At least one of the refuges (if not both) do hot food and both supply bedding and blankets. More information: http://www.imlil.org/

Ok, thanks for your help. I think I assumed that I needed a mule and guide because they're mentioned so frequently in the (organised) treks I've researched...

I will look at booking accommodation where they have a luggage room to keep the non essentials while I make the trek travelling light,

Thanks again,

Jon

I've just returned from a trek of Toubkal - my friend and I paid about £250 for a guide, mule, muleteer, porter and cook for three days, including all accomodation. We booked in advance as not sure what it would be like - but you can walk into the guide office in Imlil and sort one - could take up some of your short visit though.

The problem we found of travelling in winter was the amount of kit we needed to tackle the mountain - and its VERY cold in the evenings so you'd want a good sleeping bag, lots of warm layers for the evening - unless you really like roughing it. We stuffed our essential kit in one bag and the mule/porter carried it. The locals do find it odd if you carry huge bags.

Food is available at the refuges if you travel independantly and pre-book (both have websites - search Neltner or Mouflons refgue).

Most of the places in Imlil will be able to store your luggage - ours did happily in a locked room.

There will be other people about, especially once you get to the refuge, but how they feel about you joining them to the summit may deend on how much they've paid for a guide or if independant.

We felt we could have easily done it without a guide, though the altitude did make it hard work on the first day, but we had the whole afternoon to relax.

The guide did all the organising with the Refuge owners (whose English was limited), and even sorted out a change of plan as we were keen to do as much as possible, booking additional accomodation for us in a Berber village.

HI there,

I'm going in Jan 2013 to do the winter climb and I'm a little concerned about training etc as I've not been up anything high for a while.

I'm relatively fit - i.e. I jog / walk a fair bit...but...

I've got a month...any recommendations?!

Thanks

J

Hi Jenna;

You can simply Check the following Link to collect so many helpful information before you depart for your Trip :

http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?ff=9195&geo=293730&scope=2&q=mount+Toubkal&sub-search.x=0&sub-search.y=0&returnTo=__2F__

Happy Travels.

A flight of stairs in a house/office is about 8ft or 2.5m. You need to climb from 1700m (Imlil) to 4200m, so that's about 1000 flights of stairs. Find a skyscraper and start practicing... ;)

Joking apart, it's a non-technical but physically demanding ascent. The main difficulty is the scree fields in the south col where you sometimes slide two steps back for every three steps forward.

I used twin trekking poles when I did Toubkal, but then I'm no spring chicken anymore.

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