Moroc - Tagounite to Merzouga (M6) - condition of piste?

[Matt Roach]

I am planning on taking the Tagounite to Merzouga piste next week. Does anyone have an update on the condition of the piste after the recent rains / flooding?

I saw some of Tim Cullis's pics of the flooding in Todra a few weeks ago - does anyone know the condition of the Dades & Todra pistes now?

cheers

[Tim Cullis]

I've only done the western part of that route, much of which is rocky hamada. The reports I've read of the eastern end talk about lots of sand but apparently there are get-outs heading north. I think I'm right in saying it's relatively open country, so any rain damage will likely be localised rather than flash floods roaring through canyons.

But keep an eye out for rain, there's been more heavy downfalls since I left Morocco: Fez blog


The water table is high and the ground is sodden, so rain isn't about to soak into the ground, even at Merzouga, above.

Tim

[nmowbray]

Hi Matt, A friend and I,on xr250s, started on the M6 from Tagounite last Wednesday (29th Oct) . Through Blida and several other small villages then up and down into the Tafenna basin ,across it, and out over the other rim was all great. North of that we went wrong (luckily as it turned out) and went too far west onto the Zagora - Oum Jrane piste. I say luckily as French folk we met in 4x4s told us they were avoiding the M6 piste due to heavy flooding at Oued Rheris. Wide open piste run to Oum Jrane (where there was a little bit of easily-passable flooding) after which there is the choice of cutting out NW towards Alnif (fairly boring) or continuing N on pistes towads Rissani - Spanish guys we met in 4x4s said they had just done those pistes (with some difficulty) Hope thats of some help to you. Cheers. Nigel Mowbray

Hi,
The M6 seems to be good after the flooding of some weeks ago.The Ghress oued in Hi Remlia is fine,as people are crossing .The ziz in Ouzina is still have some water , but people start to pass, too.This is todays news .It means that you will be able to do it in good next week unless it rains again .I'll let you know about the area from now untill next Tuesday as I'll be in my village Ramlia and exactly in the aghbalou ramlia auberge.Nigel is unlucky to take that piste last week as it was flooded.Have a nice trip

cheers

[Matt Roach]

Thanks Tim, Nigel & Mr Abhbalouramlia,

I appreciate the updates on the piste and hope the rain stays away for another week or two!

Abhbalouramlia - I will try and stop in for a chai or the night at your auberge en route.

cheers

[Eric DN]

Hi

We wanted to do Merzouga Mhamid two weeks ago and we was told Rheris was not crossable, this is why we went towards Rissani to cross the oued and 20 km after Rissani we took a tracks toward tafraout and Auberge Marabout. There are a lot of tracks in this area ( look at the mapsource map from Olaf) you have many solutions. On our way we saw a lot of muddy areas in which you can be stuck easily, we saw also some lakes and grass like golf green. If needed it seems that we can find gas in tafraout near auberge Tombouctou.
Regarding Rheris the level of water depend on the reservoir water of Errachidia, because of the lake is full they open the watergate. This is why some days after rain the oued still running.
Eric

[Matt Roach]

I took the piste on Thursday 13th.

There was a small water crossing required about 2kms before Remlia (heading in the direction towards Merzouga) however the water level was quite low and definately crossable by both bikes and 4WD. There was also some water in the Oued Ziz, but again this was crossable without any major problems.

Based on the difference between previous posts and my experience this week, it seems like the water levels have subsided very quickly over the past two weeks.

cheers

[Eric DN]

Hi
October was really rainy, I hear they didn't see so much rain since 40 years. When the rain stop every things become normal quickly. It is good for the country water reserve are full.

Eric

[alfaris]

I´ve crossed the Rhemis this monday november 10th on my KTM525.

I´ve crossed it exactly at Ouzina, an small village southern Taouz 12 kms, around 13kms before Hi-Remlia. There is a pass made with stones, knees depth, where you can ride the bike. locals pass walking with their mobilettes on their shoulders.

Lakes around erg chebbi are full of water.


Be aware of mud, do not approach in excess to river or lakes, I wouldn´t try to cross Rhemis on any other place, river sides are pretty muddy what could be a trap even for a light enduro bike


otherwise, Rissani has a nice bridge where you can cross and ride a nice track south to Hi Remlia. We found some lorries following this track.