MS8 blocked going west
 

Yesterday we joined MS8 mid-way, south of FZ, aiming for Tata (did FZ to M'hamid last April).

I know you can be turned back by military if you're starting out from Tata, but we were turned due north at a checkpoint N29°31'30.9", W7°22'56.3" and sent across a stony plateau to Tissint, after being told this was a military zone. The piste is on OSM.

I couldn't establish whether this was temporary or permanent. Anyone had similar?

Between FZ and M'hamid I think we encountered only one checkpoint, but there must have been six or more yesterday between FZ and us getting diverted north.

i've tried that route many time since 2014 and always been stopped and turned back by the army.

Manged to get to 30km from Tata in 2017 heading west before getting stopped. From conversations with the army south of Tata to south of Tissint is a military zone. Lots of new signs saying as much have gone up over the last 2 years

I thought as much -shame.

Was in Zagora a few days ago, stopped at Chez Ali a couple of doors from where we met last April.

Got them to wash/oil my foam air filter - to be honest they made a bit of a mess of it!

It is a real shame, its a fantastic bit of desert. When I got to 30km from Tata I think I went through 8 checkpoints who all said it was ok, lots of signs marking the route as 'Rally Piste'

Probably the best chance is when one of the big rallies is passing through that area. I've also heard mention that permission can be obtained from the Army in Tata but I've never explored that in detail.

I should be back out in March with a long circuit in the WS planned

The guy who diverted us did ask if we had authority. And spent a while on his intercom, even longer than the other CP's!

The guys who work on the Morocco Desert Challenge get a letter from the King that gives them access pretty much anywhere.

I had to turn down some work with this years rally but one of those letters would be very nice to have :D