Dades to Todra via Agoudal

[motoreiter]

I searched here, on the HUBB, and in Morocco Overland for an answer this question, but couldn't find one, so:

I'm heading to Morocco in early May 2010 and want to ride up the Dades Gorge and down the Todra Gorge via Agoudal. How difficult is this route? I will be solo on a fully-loaded GSA with TKCs; I have limited off-road experience.

The "short-cut" betwteen Msemrir and Tattattouchte sounds a little hairy from the description in Morocco Overland, especially solo, so I think I'll give that a pass, but wanted to check on the Agoudal route.

 

[peejay]

This has been answered on here. I didn't do it when over there as we missed the track and running out of daylight.
I believe it is do-able but not easy especially on a fully loaded GS, is your ability good enough to attempt it on your own??
Someone who has done it on here would be better placed to advise...

 

[Timolgra]

I'm heading to Morocco in early May 2010 and want to ride up the Dades Gorge and down the Todra Gorge via Agoudal. How difficult is this route? I will be solo on a fully-loaded GSA with TKCs; I have limited off-road experience.

.

I've ridden that route a few times, once in very difficult conditions due to severe flooding another we had to turn back near the top of the pass due to snow.
If you're there in May I reckon you'll be perfectly ok with loaded GSAs, go for it

 

[Steptoe]

I've ridden that route a few times, once in very difficult conditions due to severe flooding

Ahh, i remember the 6 hour/40 km landrover night drive to the rescue with Bill with great affection, best offroad experiance i've ever had. Especially the last kilometer on foot.

 

[Timolgra]

Ahh, i remember the 6 hour/40 km landrover night drive to the rescue with Bill with great affection, best offroad experiance i've ever had. Especially the last kilometer on foot.

Wonderful stuff

The route can either be a pain in the butt

, a pain in the butt

or, a walk in the park

 

[Tim Cullis]

I've done the piste from Agoudal to Msemrir in the Dades. It's rocky and not particularly pleasant though my memories might be affected by the fact I wasn't feeling so good that day and the track climbs to just over 3000 metres.

I've not done the Agoudal to Todra section and would appreciate anyone's comment on that section--is it piste or tarmac?

I've also done the gorge link piste twice. The first time was solo on a fully laden 1200GS going Dades to Todra and it took about 3 hours. The second time was in a group, unladen, on a F650GS twin going Todra to Dades and it took 17 hours, the last six by moonlight.

Problems with the piste cut in two places, hard ridearounds, mud blocking mudguards, lots of river bed riding, and a lack of recent repair work--or even tracks through the river beds--due to the cut piste. So I guess it's what you would term 'conditions dependent'.

 

[Timolgra]

I've not done the Agoudal to Todra section and would appreciate anyone's comment on that section--is it piste or tarmac?

Piste with several small river crossings from Agoudal ......unless it's been raining.

 

[Fanum]

Piste with several small river crossings from Agoudal ......unless it's been raining.

We did it in December and bizarrely, even the larger river crossing by the auberge where the kids chuck big rocks in was bone dry

Oh, and the piste to Imilchil is totally tarmac from where the road joins the piste from Midelt.....you can't do the 50+ river crossings up there any more, it's totally gone

I'll put a proper post up about it very soon....I've got to dig out a WP for the barbed wire trap that I rode through on the Midelt piste before people are likely yot go there this year.....I nearly shit meself!!!

 

[Timolgra]

Oh, and the piste to Imilchil is totally tarmac from where the road joins the piste from Midelt.....you can't do the 50+ river crossings up there any more, it's totally gone


:

Yes I think that was on the cards a few years ago as the western end had been graded in preparation but I'm sure there is still a good piste running west from Midelt through the Cirque for several miles avoiding the tarmac from Midelt.
It's a shame for us some of the classics are disappearing

 

[Fanum]

Yes I think that was on the cards a few years ago as the western end had been graded in preparation but I'm sure there is still a good piste running west from Midelt through the Cirque for several miles avoiding the tarmac from Midelt.
It's a shame for us some of the classics are disappearing

That first part out of Midelt is still there, and no grading has taken place...that big boulder is still blocking 4x4 traffic, so it looks good for now.

It's where you meet the road from Boueme that goes up the hill towards the plane that it's tarmacked from, and that goes all the way through to the very top of the valley before you start the descent to join the road from Rich to Imilchil.

From the valley where the river crossings start, they've ploughed a whole new road through.....we rode up the river regardless, thinking we may be able to bypass it and have some fun anyway, but they've made it impassable by anything bigger than a donkey

There is another piste up there that doesn't appear on the Topo, but as yet it's one I've just noticed from afar and haven't gone to find it......I think we may try with the Norweigiens soon though

 

[dazzer]

I searched here, on the HUBB, and in Morocco Overland for an answer this question, but couldn't find one, so:

I'm heading to Morocco in early May 2010 and want to ride up the Dades Gorge and down the Todra Gorge via Agoudal. How difficult is this route? I will be solo on a fully-loaded GSA with TKCs; I have limited off-road experience.
The "short-cut" betwteen Msemrir and Tattattouchte sounds a little hairy from the description in Morocco Overland, especially solo, so I think I'll give that a pass, but wanted to check on the Agoudal route.

not the best off road route to take if as you say..riding solo on a fully loaded gsa with limited off road experience

stay safe