Best route from Demnate into Dades Valley

[jdivision]

I want to go from Demnate to the Dádes Valley (looking into the 742 map I think maybe near Ait-Youl) passing through Ait Bou Goumez. The Michelin 742 map shows a road (R302) starting Demnate and passing in Ait Bou Goumez and then shows a piste through Tizi-n-Ait-Hamed ending in Bou Tharar.

Anyone knows if it is easily passable with a R1200GSA with passenger?

 

[MrIFan]

I've not done that entire route but I think you'll find that certain parts of it would be challenging if you were solo on a small trail bike! It will also depend on the time of year you are going, some of the higher parts of the route may be impassable with snow as late as April. There are also many oueds that can quickly become raging torrents if there is rain in the mountains. Tim Cullis may know more about the route you want to take.

 

[MrIFan]

This was on the Northern part of the route in March 2010...

 

[Fanum]

Here's a section of that (near Demnate end)

And yes, it's me on an 1150 adv, so ignore the crappy riding

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UDiFx3T6RiY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Some really nice easy hard mud sections, but also one or two really quite technical tight and steep turns on loose rocks particularly coming in and out of a couple of villages.

The end towards the Dades gets rather more serious.

 

[jdivision]

Tanks guys!

MrIFan, can you please tell me were exactly was taken that photo? You said it is in the north Tanks guys!

@MrIFan, can you please tell me were exactly was taken that photo? You said it was in the northern part of the route. Do you mean in the R302 or the piste starting near Ait Bou Goumez (passing through Tizi-n-Ait-Hamed)?

Because I’m traveling on a R12000GSA with passenger and luggage (with road oriented tires) in middle of February and looking at you said I’d better start looking about alternatives. Do you know if the road (R307) heading south starting Demmate has the same problem that the one I mentioned above (through Tizi-n-Ait-Hamed)?

@Fanum, nice video! That was filmed in the R302 near Demmate? Did you pass trough Tizi-n-Ait-Hamed? Were did you started in the Dades (Ait-Youl)?

 

[MrIFan]

No, as pointed out to me by Fanum the picture was taken a little way to the north east of the route you want to take. However it is still representative of the route you want to take. I'm sure Bill will be along shortly with better info of the route, he has done much more in that region than I have

 

[Fanum]

Because I’m traveling on a R12000GSA with passenger and luggage (with road oriented tires) in middle of February

Unless you are a very talented rider, with an equally good pillion, I think it would be inadvisable.






I was going to say totally stupid, but I thought I'd tone it down a bit

Middle of Feb? There's a very good chance you'll not even find the piste 'cos it could be under 4 foot of snow for a start.

 

[Tim Cullis]

The middle section of the route via Tizi n'Ait Hamed definitely isn't passable on anything other than a mule or a pushbike and there are no other links south from Ait Bougmez.

Considering that it's February and you are two-up on road tyres on a big bike, the sensible suggestion is to take the C10 Tassaout Traverse R307 route all the way to Skoura.

If you were on knobblies and the weather reasonable, there is an alternative. From Demnate ride south on the tarmac R307, then at the bridge at Toughrine/Toufrine carry straight on (due east) along the piste that you can see on the 13th/14th pictures of the above link.

This piste takes you over the Tizi n'Oulaoum (N31 24.900 W6 36.000) and after about 55km brings you out by the 7th photo on the S21 Tisgui Loop route from where there is a choice of pistes heading towards Bou Tharar.

You join fresh tarmac at Amejgag which is to the south of the Tizi n'Ait Hamed mule track.

Good luck!

 

[Tim Cullis]

There's a grotty tea shop on the C10 route run by a toothy old guy who makes the most revolting tea I've ever tasted.

He then rolled out his visitor's book and I had a scroll through those who had been encouraged to write nice things about him.

At least his hospitality was better than his tea!