Tichka pass
 

Am I crazy to think I could cross the Tichka pass on moto this week from Ouarzazate to Marrakech? just a little bit outside of Taroudant right now. Does the heat of the day normally return the blacktop to dry conditions after a snow in January? Are there any links to road conditions in the pass?


Also does anyone know where I could get camping gaz in Marrakech?

I dont think the Tichka is blocked with snow for weeks at a time - more like a few days at most and the ploughs get right on it.
Ask around - if Tichka is closed it is big disruption so word will get out.

No official links (phone lines/www) to High Atlas road conditions afaik.
Best seems to be the sticky 'Severe weather and closures…' post at the top of this forum.

Test pass is less snow prone I am told, but currently being widened on the south side so up to an hour's delay.

Thanks Chris. I guess the main question is whether the road returns to blacktop after being driven on with snow. Hard pack becomes ice and the plows go right over it, so only warm weather or Sun can take it off, or a lot of traffic..

Maybe I'll do the test and then go Marrakech to Ouarzazate when the weather's good.

Oh I see what you mean. I would say Tichka returns to tarmac after ploughing. It doesn't become an 'ice road' like the Dalton Highway in winter. No trucks could manage the switchbacks, even with snow chains.

The authorities grit the roads and any remaining snow tends to go direct to water vapour via sublimation rather than turn to water that freezes. It been hot sun for a few weeks so no problems on the N9.

Thanks Chris and Tim. Would you be able to tell me how far the nearest access to Sahara dunes is from ourzazate? I would like to at least see them before I head back north!

Nearest I suppose are after Zagora towards Mhamid - great ride from Ozt.
But better dunes by far will be Erg Chebbi further east.

The nearest real Sahara in Morocco is Western Sahara.

The majority of the region south and east of the Atlas Mountains is a semi-arid area known technically as 'Pre-Saharan Steppes'. Mostly this is stony/grit surface known as 'hamada', but in a couple of areas there are 'ergs' or sand seas. Erg Chebbi is about 25km by 7km, Erg Chigaga is larger. The fact the surface is sand rather than stones doesn't really make it a desert though.

There's a small area called Erg Tinfou just below Zagora, next to Sahara Sky Hotel, see https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...8e97a506ffb72b

Couldn't resist, so did the ourzazate, dades, todra, rachidia, erg chebbi, merzouga, zagora, tinfou, and on to marrakech over the tichka a couple days ago. It was fine with banked snow ploughed along the roadsides in places, and lots of water and gravel mixed on the road. Steady sunshine makes most things doable!

oh, and awsak supermarche in ourzazate has the large camping gaz cylinders...just the one size, but cheap at 70dh i think

Sorry that should be spelled ASWAK