Toubkal summit ascension
Table of contents
Planning the trip
Just after a week in Hawaii, I was eager for my next adventure: climbing Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 4167 meters above sea level. I invited around ten friends, hoping they’d be as excited as I was. We set up a meeting to organize the trip, but only three of us showed up. Although this was disappointing, it didn’t change my determination. The few of us who came got to work on the plans, gathering tips from experienced hikers. Directly after, I headed to a hiking gear store. After spending 3000 dirhams (around $300), I walked out with all the basics for the climb: a big backpack, hiking shoes, an inflatable mattress, a sleeping bag rated for -5 degrees, an inflatable pillow, two hiking poles, and a lamp. With all this gear, I felt ready for the adventure
Setting off
The big day arrived, and we started early, driving from Marrakech to the village of Imlil. My friend’s brother-in-law joined us last minute, and the three of us packed up the car with all our gear. We began the hike around noon, feeling hopeful about the journey ahead. The scenery was amazing, a small waterfalls was awaiting mid-way where we had a small break, and clouds scattered below us the higher we went
After few hours, the physical demands hit me hard, especially with over 10 kg in my backpack. I made the mistake of bringing a little too much cans thinking it will benefit us in an extreme case. The reality was that you don’t need that much food along the way. Also there is a carrying mule service that you can pay for and find your bag at the destination. Lesson learned!
I ran out of energy faster than I thought, and I had to dig deep to keep going. It was a test of both my physical and mental strength, and I faced parts of myself I hadn’t expected
Arriving at Toubkal
After seven hours of hiking -including a short rest along the way-, we finally reached Toubkal refuge at sunset. Experienced hikers don’t take that long of course. The refuge is a lodge, sitting at 3200 meters and at the base of the summit trail, well-equipped but didn’t solve everything. At this height, breathing got difficult, and a strong headache kept me awake most of the night. Despite my -5°C sleeping bag, my feet were freezing. I started doubting if I’d make it to the summit the next day. The refuge was warm, but the thin air made it tough to get any real rest
The final push
In the morning, my friend’s brother-in-law decided to stay back. My friend and I pressed on, setting out for the final four-hour stretch to the top. Each step was harder than the last, but we were determined to reach the summit. When we finally made it, the feeling was incredible. We stood alone, high above the clouds, with only a few crows nearby and an endless view across the horizon. It was a moment of pure joy—a quiet, shared achievement at the top of North Africa, surrounded by the stunning view and vast open sky
Behold the photo album