Route Climbed: Normal route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 26th of April 2005
We climbed it with my wife at the end of the april. Though there was still quite lot of snow (in patches), crampons were not necessary (temperature was above 5 degrees during whole climb). Route is easy, we only had a bit of a problem with a mild altitude sickness.
Route Climbed: Ibhiki sud Date Climbed: 2 february 2004
Well, also climbed in winter 2004 with my wife and two friends.
A lot of snow, more I guess than this year ( 2005 ) but very cold weather especialy during the hike from Imlil to the hut. We arrived with a blue skin color !
Route Climbed: Ibhiki sud Date Climbed: 12 mars 2005
Yeah, we climb it within hard meteo conditions - a lot of wind, and snow fall - during all the ascent.
A lot of snow, hard on the sides where there's no sun, and better for snow-board after the morning if the side is exposed to the sun.
On the top, impossible to stay, because we were flying with wind, so we descend very fast to the pass at 4000, put our snow-boards and descend the Ibikhi sud until the refuge, GREAT. We didn't took the Ibhiki nord because of the conditions which made the route quite dangerous.
Route Climbed: Normal/Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: January 20, 2005
Weather was very pleasant, very little snow below the Refuge, ice axe and crampons needed thereafter. Took a full day of climbing (12 hours) but I reached the summit and made it back to Marrakech and was shopping in the plaza that same evening.
Route Climbed: Normal Route (from Lodge / Base Camp) Date Climbed: 15th September 2004
Tackled the Summit during what appeared to be one of the first proper snowfalls of the year. Definite snow line appeared at approx. 3700m, but was not to thick and only slowed process slightly. Strong wind and snow was experienced on the final summit ridge, leading to poor visibility and a drop in temperature. However danger levels remained low.
We didn't leave sufficient acclimatisation time, however a steady ascent with lots of breaks kept any altitude problems at bay. All in all a good fun climb, full report to follow.
Route Climbed: Normal route. Ikhibi Sud. Date Climbed: 29 December 2002.
It was an unforgettable trip in Christmas time : mountains, desert and sea. My second four- thousander. We were a big group with 68 people and all of them reached the summit. Lobelia.
A long hot scree slog, but great views. And enlivened all the more when someone I was climbing with accidentally 'followed through' while farting on the summit. He blamed food poisoning...
Route Climbed: Normal Route Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2002
A great experience in 'If you don't know if it's possible just try it yourself.'
Left Asni at 900 after a leisurely breakfast with great cafe Berber (spiced - if anyone knows the recipe tell me). It was a welcome warmth on the mid- 'African winter' morning..
Hitched a ride 3/4 of the way to Imlil in a construction truck. Rented an axe and walking poles in Imlil to supplement my sneakers and daypack. I had food for myself for 3 days, bivy clothes, water and basic first aid.
Left Imlil 1000, and enjoyed a tea and snack at the sacred place of the King of the Djinn before noon.
Final ascent begun at 1400 in afternoon to take advantage of soft snow - no problem with axe. It was 'africa cold' (read: no problem ). Beautiful mountain all to myself. noticed various tracks of skiis and snowboard.
Summit before 1600, and experienced an annoyance of climbing away from Switzerland- there was no one to take a picture for me... ; )
Fun descent to hut in 50 mins and ran down to Imlil in fading light to return rented gear. It's funnny how 70 Dirhams for rental gear or 160 Dr for the shelter can seem like alot of money while in Africa.
I would have preferred to share the experience with a fun partner, but I enjoyed the winter ascent solitude in itself.
Route Climbed: Jebel Toubkal & Toubkal Ouest by the Normal Route Date Climbed: March 1998
After 4 very long hours we reached the summit of Toubkal climbing up an endless slope . It was a super-hot day. The view from the top worthed the effort. Then we went for the Toubkal Ouest summit that is nearby.
I climbed with my brother when I was 18. We spent five days walking around the mountain, staying in little villages and camping. We didn't take a tent, just bivvy bags.
Watch out for water on the trek - you can never be sure where the next supply is going to be so carry lots. Also it is worth taking iodene even for sources high iin the hills.
Descended a more direct way and passed the wreckage of a small plane on the side of the mountain.
Route Climbed: Normal route (south cwm / ikhibi sud) Date Climbed: 24th March 2000
With 5 friends from Edinburgh University Hillwalking Club. Camped at Neltner for 2 nights acclimatising / feeling sick, then 3rd night in the refuge. Set off early, made the summit exhausted but happy. On hard snow from the refuge. First taste of altitude. Returned to Imlil same day. Would love to go back and climb some more of the mountains round the refuge.
Route Climbed: Normal Route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 9 April 1998
6 friends and me started from a tent near refuge Neltner at 9:45 in the morning. Two of us climbed first Toubkal Ouest passing Tizi n'Toubkal. From this secundary peak of Toubkal could see our team mates on Toubkal summit. Then we worked up onto it under a burning sun, reached summit and descended to meet our friends.
Route Climbed: Normal Route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 3 April 1996
4 team mates and me started from a tent near refuge Neltner at 10:30 in the morning. Reached the summit when the clouds covered it, the storm was there, all our hairs stood on end and we had to protect crampons and axes against possible rays. Once on the ikhibi we emerged from the clouds and returned to base camp.
Route Climbed: Normal Route Date Climbed: April 16th 2002
Great climb. Ended up going up twice in two days. Lots of snow but the view was well worth it. Check out the trip report. Crampons and ice axe were needed.
Not too easy walk from Neltner refuge (3.207 m). Two friends of mine and me left camp near this hut at 9:30 h. The snow wasn't yet so hard but kept on the ikhibi (stream bed) Sud. About 12.000 ft. we felt sick because of height but kept upstairs another time. The ascent isn't difficult, the trail goes along a large snow-covered bed until tizi n'Toubkal (Toubkal col) at 3.940 m. Some climbers go back from summit after leaving their camps soon on the morning. On the col we turned to the left up a scree slope, went along the ridge coming up from the col and traversed right to the summit plateau. There a great iron piramid marks the tallest point of NW-Africa (4.167 m). The sky was then overcast and there was a little fog first of the descent. We lost the trail a little but soon found it. The descent was a pleasant walk on this beautiful High Atlas mountain, the snow had soften and we sometimes sank to our hips at the last part of the route over our tent.
Route Climbed: normal route Date Climbed: jan 2000
Had to turn around 60 vertical meters from the summit.
We had come too fast to the refuge, and my partner felt sick, so we got up late, started late, dragged ass on the way up, and eventually my partner gave up and turned around. I went on alone, but it was already too late. Because the hut's guard was supposed to leave at 4 pm, I had a turnaround time of 2. At 2:30, I turned around in view of the summit.
But.
It was my first experience of altitude, and I had my money worth of it. That day I was totally alone on the mountain, and the view is great.
Especially in winter, I think it is a good training mountain. It looks and feel like a high altitude mountain, yet it is not difficult.
kober - May 11, 2005 11:25 am
Route Climbed: Normal route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 26th of April 2005We climbed it with my wife at the end of the april. Though there was still quite lot of snow (in patches), crampons were not necessary (temperature was above 5 degrees during whole climb). Route is easy, we only had a bit of a problem with a mild altitude sickness.
salimr - Apr 6, 2005 12:47 pm
Route Climbed: Ibhiki sud Date Climbed: 2 february 2004Well, also climbed in winter 2004 with my wife and two friends.
A lot of snow, more I guess than this year ( 2005 ) but very cold weather especialy during the hike from Imlil to the hut. We arrived with a blue skin color !
That's all folk, see you all very soon
salimr - Mar 14, 2005 10:11 am
Route Climbed: Ibhiki sud Date Climbed: 12 mars 2005Yeah, we climb it within hard meteo conditions - a lot of wind, and snow fall - during all the ascent.
A lot of snow, hard on the sides where there's no sun, and better for snow-board after the morning if the side is exposed to the sun.
On the top, impossible to stay, because we were flying with wind, so we descend very fast to the pass at 4000, put our snow-boards and descend the Ibikhi sud until the refuge, GREAT. We didn't took the Ibhiki nord because of the conditions which made the route quite dangerous.
See you soon all, there
mountainmanmitch - Feb 16, 2005 10:57 pm
Route Climbed: Normal/Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: January 20, 2005Weather was very pleasant, very little snow below the Refuge, ice axe and crampons needed thereafter. Took a full day of climbing (12 hours) but I reached the summit and made it back to Marrakech and was shopping in the plaza that same evening.
Darek - Jan 14, 2005 7:13 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Date Climbed: Jun 2002Great views! Path to Toubkal is quite popular, but neighbouring valleys and peaks are at least equally beautiful.
Andrew Polhill - Oct 12, 2004 10:59 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route (from Lodge / Base Camp) Date Climbed: 15th September 2004Tackled the Summit during what appeared to be one of the first proper snowfalls of the year. Definite snow line appeared at approx. 3700m, but was not to thick and only slowed process slightly. Strong wind and snow was experienced on the final summit ridge, leading to poor visibility and a drop in temperature. However danger levels remained low.
We didn't leave sufficient acclimatisation time, however a steady ascent with lots of breaks kept any altitude problems at bay. All in all a good fun climb, full report to follow.
Lobelia - Oct 9, 2004 1:23 pm
Route Climbed: Normal route. Ikhibi Sud. Date Climbed: 29 December 2002.It was an unforgettable trip in Christmas time : mountains, desert and sea. My second four- thousander. We were a big group with 68 people and all of them reached the summit. Lobelia.
2hansen - Jul 7, 2004 8:30 am
Route Climbed: Ascend from west/south (from refugee) - Descend west/north (via plane wreck) Date Climbed: August 2001This summit was the highlight of an 8-day hike in the High Atlas. Pretty crowded on summit.
Dan Bailey - Feb 10, 2004 12:10 pm
Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: summer 1996A long hot scree slog, but great views. And enlivened all the more when someone I was climbing with accidentally 'followed through' while farting on the summit. He blamed food poisoning...
Vinny - Jan 6, 2003 8:36 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route Date Climbed: Jan 3, 2002A great experience in 'If you don't know if it's possible just try it yourself.'
Left Asni at 900 after a leisurely breakfast with great cafe Berber (spiced - if anyone knows the recipe tell me). It was a welcome warmth on the mid- 'African winter' morning..
Hitched a ride 3/4 of the way to Imlil in a construction truck. Rented an axe and walking poles in Imlil to supplement my sneakers and daypack. I had food for myself for 3 days, bivy clothes, water and basic first aid.
Left Imlil 1000, and enjoyed a tea and snack at the sacred place of the King of the Djinn before noon.
Final ascent begun at 1400 in afternoon to take advantage of soft snow - no problem with axe. It was 'africa cold' (read: no problem ). Beautiful mountain all to myself. noticed various tracks of skiis and snowboard.
Summit before 1600, and experienced an annoyance of climbing away from Switzerland- there was no one to take a picture for me... ; )
Fun descent to hut in 50 mins and ran down to Imlil in fading light to return rented gear. It's funnny how 70 Dirhams for rental gear or 160 Dr for the shelter can seem like alot of money while in Africa.
I would have preferred to share the experience with a fun partner, but I enjoyed the winter ascent solitude in itself.
TodoVertical - Dec 5, 2002 10:12 am
Route Climbed: Jebel Toubkal & Toubkal Ouest by the Normal Route Date Climbed: March 1998After 4 very long hours we reached the summit of Toubkal climbing up an endless slope . It was a super-hot day. The view from the top worthed the effort. Then we went for the Toubkal Ouest summit that is nearby.
Claire Prewett - Oct 25, 2002 8:29 am
Date Climbed: September 02Trekked to the top in the summer after spending 15 days trekking in the High Atlas. My first peak, fell in love with the mountains.
Chamonix Man - Aug 14, 2002 4:39 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route from Refuge Hut Date Climbed: July 1996Click here for a more full trip report.
I climbed with my brother when I was 18. We spent five days walking around the mountain, staying in little villages and camping. We didn't take a tent, just bivvy bags.
Watch out for water on the trek - you can never be sure where the next supply is going to be so carry lots. Also it is worth taking iodene even for sources high iin the hills.
Descended a more direct way and passed the wreckage of a small plane on the side of the mountain.
Phil McLean - Jun 10, 2002 4:54 pm
Route Climbed: Normal route (south cwm / ikhibi sud) Date Climbed: 24th March 2000With 5 friends from Edinburgh University Hillwalking Club. Camped at Neltner for 2 nights acclimatising / feeling sick, then 3rd night in the refuge. Set off early, made the summit exhausted but happy. On hard snow from the refuge. First taste of altitude. Returned to Imlil same day. Would love to go back and climb some more of the mountains round the refuge.
Diego Sahagún - Apr 21, 2002 9:52 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 9 April 19986 friends and me started from a tent near refuge Neltner at 9:45 in the morning. Two of us climbed first Toubkal Ouest passing Tizi n'Toubkal. From this secundary peak of Toubkal could see our team mates on Toubkal summit. Then we worked up onto it under a burning sun, reached summit and descended to meet our friends.
Diego Sahagún - Apr 21, 2002 9:34 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route / Ikhibi Sud Date Climbed: 3 April 19964 team mates and me started from a tent near refuge Neltner at 10:30 in the morning. Reached the summit when the clouds covered it, the storm was there, all our hairs stood on end and we had to protect crampons and axes against possible rays. Once on the ikhibi we emerged from the clouds and returned to base camp.
mmalloy - Apr 20, 2002 11:29 am
Route Climbed: Normal Route Date Climbed: April 16th 2002Great climb. Ended up going up twice in two days. Lots of snow but the view was well worth it. Check out the trip report. Crampons and ice axe were needed.
Diego Sahagún - Feb 5, 2002 3:44 pm
Route Climbed: Normal Date Climbed: 31 March 1994Not too easy walk from Neltner refuge (3.207 m). Two friends of mine and me left camp near this hut at 9:30 h. The snow wasn't yet so hard but kept on the ikhibi (stream bed) Sud. About 12.000 ft. we felt sick because of height but kept upstairs another time. The ascent isn't difficult, the trail goes along a large snow-covered bed until tizi n'Toubkal (Toubkal col) at 3.940 m. Some climbers go back from summit after leaving their camps soon on the morning. On the col we turned to the left up a scree slope, went along the ridge coming up from the col and traversed right to the summit plateau. There a great iron piramid marks the tallest point of NW-Africa (4.167 m). The sky was then overcast and there was a little fog first of the descent. We lost the trail a little but soon found it. The descent was a pleasant walk on this beautiful High Atlas mountain, the snow had soften and we sometimes sank to our hips at the last part of the route over our tent.
ben jammin - Dec 19, 2001 12:08 pm
Route Climbed: Standard Date Climbed: August 1995Maroccan mountain sickness due to a far too enthusiastic ascent :-(
jpdoumeyrou - Oct 5, 2001 1:57 am
Route Climbed: normal route Date Climbed: jan 2000Had to turn around 60 vertical meters from the summit.
We had come too fast to the refuge, and my partner felt sick, so we got up late, started late, dragged ass on the way up, and eventually my partner gave up and turned around. I went on alone, but it was already too late. Because the hut's guard was supposed to leave at 4 pm, I had a turnaround time of 2. At 2:30, I turned around in view of the summit.
But.
It was my first experience of altitude, and I had my money worth of it. That day I was totally alone on the mountain, and the view is great.
Especially in winter, I think it is a good training mountain. It looks and feel like a high altitude mountain, yet it is not difficult.
Also Morocco is quite interesting.