Mgoun is North Africa's third highest mountain, and the highest peak in the Ait Bougmez region of the Central High Atlas. This photograph was taken en route to the summit, a day that starts well before dawn. On this occasion the day started with a light breakfast at 3.30am and departure at 4.00. The main reason for the early start (common to most mountain ascents in Morocco) is that weather conditions tend to be better early morning, with most of the peaks of the Atlas subject to quick changes in conditions after midday. It's also a very agreeable time to hike particularly on a moonlit night where the surrounding topography is suprisingly visible. The other advantage is that you are less likely to fully realise the steepness of the gradient on the eraly part of the climb! The Mgoun trek is arguably the most scenic and most enjoyable of all of Epic Morocco's hikes. The trip starts in one of the High Atlas's most beautiful valleys - the fertile Ait Bougmez, dubbed by many "the happy valley" (on account of its laid back and hospitable inhabitants) and "little Nepal" by others. It's true that it has a Nepalese feel about it - a broad expanse of wheat fields and fruit orchards framed by bare towering mountains and punctuated by small adobe settlements and farms. It takes a further 5 days of trekking to reach the summit and descend by an alternative route back to Bougmez. En route we camp in wilderness locations and the trails are surprisingly free from other trekkers. The summit climb itself is one of the nicest as it involves a long ridge walk, where a pencil thin track bisects a huge crater to the north and some extraordinary views over the south of Morocco. On a clear day you can see multiple mountains ranges - Sirwa, Saghro, Beni, Anti-Atlas - all the way to the northern fringes of the Sahara Desert. The trek is graded as moderate to challenging and is suitable for those with some prior hiking experience and a good level of physical fitness. After the wilds of the trek it's a joy to return to the lush fields of Bougmez, and after the trek we return to Marrakech to stay the night in the medina in a traditional riad (courtyard house). Our Mgoun trek runs through the summer months (the winters are ferociusly cold in this region) and the ascent of Mgoun is also included in our Three Peaks Challenge itinerary where keen hikers, with a good level of physical fitness, get to climb Morocco's three highest mountains - Mgoun, Ouanoukrim, and Toubkal. |
