Mk Overland
 

Thanks for the Morocco Overland updates Mark.

I'm going back in the Spring to check things over and explore some new areas, but if anyone else has found pistes in the book that have become roads, it would be good to know as I don't plan to re-ride them all, just my favourites (if time and weather allow).

fwiw, I believe MA2 the steep track just north of Igmir village is under a huge pile of rubble.

Ch

Morocco Overland ~ Updates and Accommodation

Hi,

My experience Nov2011 of MS6:
A (very!) small section of MS6 is sealed, West of Zaouia Sidi Yahya, some km before Tagounite.

My feedback on this forum here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9-2#post356122

Some photos of MS6:
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Merzouga Mahmid
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Mahmid Merzouga

BR,
Luis Cabrita

Great photos CaBRita, thx for sharing.

Cheers Mark

You're welcome Chris, thanks for the fantastic book :) On a couple of routes I didn't exactly follow the published route but I guess thats the nature of Morocco at times

We also did MW1 and MW6 with Barrie, both still all off road although a new road is being built running west from the Assa - Zag road maybe to Hawza/Mseid

Thanks Luis, nice bit of sliding on the AT. I may use that pic in AMH if that's OK.

If anyone else has killer scenic shots from Mk for the colour section send a link. Cars, 4x4, motos, quads, pushbikes, whatever.

Hope to do MW1 again - like the idea of cutting across to Labouriat. Nice and open down there.

Sorry to hijack the OP

Ch

Hello Chris

You're very welcome to use any of mine if they are good enough.

Panoramio - Photos by Matt-K

If you're doing an update, how about some WS routes? Seem's there is a bit of interest.

Hi Chris

you can use any of these if you like

Flickr: Harry m3's Photostream

Thanks for photo links.
Have to say I'm not so inspired by inland WS from what I've read and seen, and that's usually my motivation to do a route. Plus I'm not sure that many actually go there and the mine menace puts me off. I'll leave it to Gandini.
I was talking with a tour op the other day and he said the monotony in WS became a running joke with the group. I suppose everyone has their own expectations of wide open desert, but to me the drama and contrasts up north are what make Mk special - even if most routes are no more than overnighters.

Ch

Hi Chris,

Absolutely no problem that you use my photos.

I'd say that it is a small contribution compared to the inspiration and orientation that your books gave me! :scooter:

Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Mahmid Merzouga
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Merzouga Mahmid


BR,
Luis Cabrita

Morocco Overland - a set on Flickr

Some of mine, Off road bits are all MW6

Got a lot more to upload but I've reached my limit :)

Western Sahara
 

There is a lot more to Western Sahara than barren emptiness and the perceived threat of landmines. The further south you go, the more interesting and diverse the terrain and conditions become.
Of course you'll not have the splendour of the mountains (though you could always traverse the as-yet-unspoiled Anti Atlas on the way back north), but then neither will you have the saddening beggars and hustlers of Morocco.
That the galavanting hordes do not venture this far south contributes to the beauty of the place, and should be treasured for as long as it lasts.
Areas featuring pre-historic artefacts, archaeological formations, fossils, pre-Islamic rock art and the like are indeed remote, but does not the adventure of desert exploration lie in seeking out and finding these gems of ancient man and nature?

Seeing as you've actually been there, I'm sure you're right about WS Barrie, certainly from the pre-Islamic PoV (compared to 'mainland' Morocco). Nick Brooks has studied much of that on the other side of the Berm.

Look closely and anywhere in the desert is interesting, but having seen the central Sahara of Libya, Niger and Alg can spoil you ;-)

Ch

Ja, and as a Seth Efricin; for ages I've wanted to visit the site of Pelican 16, but the only way around the berm that I can find is from the south. My wife reckons that whatever AQIM see fit to do to me will be nothing compared with the beating I'll get from her when I'm back! Maybe I'll wait until she's away on holiday and sneak off for another 'southern Morocco research trip'.
Anyway, back to cooking the Christmas feast now (No, it's not in a tagine! I'm not even using any Ras-el-Hanout this time!)
Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and Prosperous (if only) New Year

Hi, Chris. I drowe with bike end of October MA2 from North to South. Up from Igmir is complete new wide gravel road. I have many pictures from that section and can send to you.

Merry Christmas and as many as possible safe, enjoyable Overland km's in 2012.

Hi Chris
I can send to you a gdb file which contains a lot of tracks becoming paved. It has been done by contributors on a Morocco dedicated forum. I beleive we can trust it.

Eric