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  #1  
Old 1 Jan 2012
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Morocco piste conditions
I am travelling to Morocco in February and have planned a route that takes in the mountains and the desert. Is MH1 - Midelt to Boumalde Dades a viable option for this time of the year? Or is it likely to be impassable because of snow or mud? I did Ait Hani - Agoudal - BD in April of 2009 and part of the track between Agoudal and Tizi N Ouano was blocked with snow (land slide) requiring a cross country detour. Has anyone been out that way recently? What are conditions like this year?

Also, what is the state of the state of the desert pistes MS6, MS8 and MW6? Is there flooding on the dried out lake beds and oueds?
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  #2  
Old 1 Jan 2012
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It'll be cold, cold, cold!
Hi Richard,

In Feb, there'll be plenty snow at altitude. MH1 is mostly tarmac/graded between Midelt and Imilchil and is now a main route servicing the villages and therefore cleared regularly.

From Agoudal to Msemir it's piste and likely to remain so. As you'll have seen on your last visit, this section is very exposed and is often snow-bound.

We did MS6,7 & 8 in October and again in November. In October Lac Iriki, Lac Maider and Oued Rheris were all impassable due to flooding. Two weeks later, they were fine.

There's been crazy weather in Morocco recently, so best advice is to ask around when you get there and remember that there's always a way around.

Happy trails,

Jojo
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  #3  
Old 1 Jan 2012
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Cold it will be.

So most of MH1 should be doable. If there are problems on the Agoudal to Msemir piste, I'll come down the Ait Hani way, which I believe is also main route?? - it was being worked on in 2009.

wrt the Lacs, we see when we get there. I got stuck in mud last time round.

thanks

Reinhard
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  #4  
Old 1 Jan 2012
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Fun In Feb.
Hi Richard,

Yes, virtually all of the piste from Agoudal to Todra is tarmac. Last time I was over Tizi Tinerhouzine it was wide and graded. The old track down from the top of the pass was still driveable though but I'm not sure I'd want to do it if there's ice about as the drops are humungous!

If Lac Iriki is flooded you can take the piste running along the base of Jebel Bani (locals call it the "mountain piste". It's flat but really rocky and tough on suspension.

If Lac Maider is flooded there's a piste that swings south and around to rejoin the main piste.

If Oued Rheris is flooded just keep heading north and you should be able to find a crossing point at the neck of the oued.

HTH, happy trails,

Jojo
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Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Tunisia, Arctic Circle, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.
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  #5  
Old 2 Jan 2012
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Ms6
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinhard Lenicker View Post

Also, what is the state of the state of the desert pistes MS6, MS8 and MW6? Is there flooding on the dried out lake beds and oueds?
Dear Reinhard, I rode MS6 Merzouga-Mahmid and back on the 2nd week of November2011 and it seems we were lucky enough because then there was no flood at all.

I understood that you plan is to ride those pistes in February? Someone here will know better than me but I wonder if in that time of the year there is more risk of rain and ice melting and hence flooded oueds.

My photos:
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Merzouga Mahmid
Panoramio - Photos by LMCabrita > MS6 - Mahmid Merzouga

My updates and further feedback here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...9-2#post356122

BR,
Luis Cabrita
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  #6  
Old 4 Jan 2012
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Reinhard,
What date will you be there? I will be crossing from Spain to Morocco on February 27. I had booked a trip with Waypoint tours, but this has now been cancelled due to lack of numbers. So I am now in route planning mode.
Charlie

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reinhard Lenicker View Post
I am travelling to Morocco in February and have planned a route that takes in the mountains and the desert. Is MH1 - Midelt to Boumalde Dades a viable option for this time of the year? Or is it likely to be impassable because of snow or mud? I did Ait Hani - Agoudal - BD in April of 2009 and part of the track between Agoudal and Tizi N Ouano was blocked with snow (land slide) requiring a cross country detour. Has anyone been out that way recently? What are conditions like this year?

Also, what is the state of the state of the desert pistes MS6, MS8 and MW6? Is there flooding on the dried out lake beds and oueds?
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  #7  
Old 5 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JoJo1 View Post
Hi Richard,

Yes, virtually all of the piste from Agoudal to Todra is tarmac. Last time I was over Tizi Tinerhouzine it was wide and graded. The old track down from the top of the pass was still driveable though but I'm not sure I'd want to do it if there's ice about as the drops are humungous!

If Lac Iriki is flooded you can take the piste running along the base of Jebel Bani (locals call it the "mountain piste". It's flat but really rocky and tough on suspension.

If Lac Maider is flooded there's a piste that swings south and around to rejoin the main piste.

If Oued Rheris is flooded just keep heading north and you should be able to find a crossing point at the neck of the oued.

HTH, happy trails,

Jojo
Hi Jojo,

Shame about the tarmac between Agoudal - Todra. It was still work in progress when I went through there last. I guess the locals need tarmac roads more than we need gravel road or trails. The views will still be there.

The alternative routes are noted - thanks.

R
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  #8  
Old 5 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaBRita View Post
Dear Reinhard, I rode MS6 Merzouga-Mahmid and back on the 2nd week of November2011 and it seems we were lucky enough because then there was no flood at all.
Hi Cabrita

I had done MS6 in 2009 after the very wet winter and you had to be way of mud on the Lac. We'll see how it turns out this time.

thanks

R
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  #9  
Old 5 Jan 2012
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Originally Posted by Bigchaser View Post
Reinhard,
What date will you be there? I will be crossing from Spain to Morocco on February 27. I had booked a trip with Waypoint tours, but this has now been cancelled due to lack of numbers. So I am now in route planning mode.
Charlie
Hi Bigchaser,

My trip is earlier - I should be back by the time you leave.

R
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  #10  
Old 8 Jan 2012
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I'm in a similar situation to Richard. Considering a visit to Morocco by bike (KTM Adventure) in the first week of February. It's very short notice and it would be my first visit to Morocco with a bike.

I could really use some advice on the likely conditions and where is feasible to visit for me to make the best of the trip.

If even the 'iconic' routes / waypoints like the Dades and Todra, Ait Benhaddou & Tizi N Tichka are likely to have snow issues, am I dopey for even thinking about it? I don't want to go all that way to just end up cruising on motorways!!
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  #11  
Old 10 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vindaloo View Post
I'm in a similar situation to Richard. Considering a visit to Morocco by bike (KTM Adventure) in the first week of February. It's very short notice and it would be my first visit to Morocco with a bike.

I could really use some advice on the likely conditions and where is feasible to visit for me to make the best of the trip.

If even the 'iconic' routes / waypoints like the Dades and Todra, Ait Benhaddou & Tizi N Tichka are likely to have snow issues, am I dopey for even thinking about it? I don't want to go all that way to just end up cruising on motorways!!

there should be plenty of advice regarding conditions on the forum; keep south of the Atlas and you won't be dissapointed...
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Old 10 Jan 2012
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Any information on Route MA2: Aït Herbil - Tafraoute ? on the book's website it says its closed thanks to a landslide.


Tito
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Last edited by clubman; 10 Jan 2012 at 15:40.
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  #13  
Old 11 Jan 2012
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I´ve just come from Morocco and High Atlas seems not to have too much snow. This year there has been only a little bit rain in Morocco.
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  #14  
Old 11 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pera View Post
I´ve just come from Morocco and High Atlas seems not to have too much snow. This year there has been only a little bit rain in Morocco.
That is good news Pera - many thanks. Looking forward to getting out there.
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  #15  
Old 11 Jan 2012
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Any information on Route MA2: Aït Herbil - Tafraoute ? on the book's website it says its closed thanks to a landslide.
Tito
The photos here are from Sep 2010. I would have hoped the road would have been cleared by now. The landslide is towards the northern end of the valley of Assif n’Smouguene, suggest you contact Gite Igmire (which is about 1km away from where the landslide happened) for the current situation.

If you are coming from the south there's an alternative route--fork right up the valley of Assif n’Int about 10-15km before the landslide. I had to do this route (about 35km) at nightime, so life was interesting. Came across the two biggest wildboar I've ever seen which was a bit disconcerting when they loomed up in the headlight.
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