'Sahara Overland' - Moroccan Route Advice

[reddude]

Hi All
I liked my little wander round Morocco in Nov/Dec08 so much, I am thinking of taking another look next month and have been reading Chris Scotts' book 'Sahara Overland' for some inspiration.

Some of the routes mentioned in it look appealing and I was wondering if any of you lads have ridden the routes recently and can advise condition and suitability for 1200GSA with Tourances and luggage.

M3 Boudenib <-> Gourama
M12 TanTan <-> Assa
M6 Tagounite <-> Merzouga
M9 Talouine <-> Foum Zguid

I 'discovered' his M11 route by accident last time and it is the mutts nuts so it is definitely on my list to see again.

Also, I quite fancy the route up the Todra and down the Dades via the mountains. Anybody know how likely that route is to be open in April? I know there are 3 high passes to cross (~2700M) so I imagine snow and meltwater might be problems?

Any advice on these routes (or suggestions of better ones) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Tim Cullis]

I've done some of the routes, but of those you mention only a bit of M3 and a bit of M12. Rain and snow can happen, check conditions locally. And don't try the 'shortcut' between the two pistes!

Chris has a new book out in May called Morocco Overland with more than 40 routes.

Tim

 

[reddude]

Chris, if you're there ...

I don't suppose you can sell me an advance copy of the routes - I'm off to Morocco at the end of the month.

Thanks.

 

[jbmoto]

"Sahara Overland"

Chris S.
I have pre-ordered your book, what is the tentative date to start shipping them out.

JB

 

[Tim Cullis]

Morocco Overland (as opposed to Sahara Overland) is due May 2009.

Tim

 

[Marjorie Proops]

Not your exact routes but in January we did route M7 Foum Zguid to Mhamid which tags onto M9 that you might be doing.

All fine except for the last few klicks into Mhamid which is a bit sandy but you would find a way through (we were in a 4x4 but I could have got through on the 1150).

The lake (Iriki) was almost dried out at the northern end leaving a damp mud/sand surface - completely flat for mile after mile with the tyres crunching the surface part dried mud - sounded like driving over wet cabbage, great fun!

Overnight wild camping no problem

As always, it depends on the weather.

Steve

 

[Timolgra]

Morocco Overland (as opposed to Sahara Overland) is due May 2009.

Tim

I think half of UKGSer could publish their own version by now

As you know with the current speed of change in Morocco, relying on a guide book for info on many of the 'classic' pistes can be out of date within 6 months. Saying that, the Morocco Overland book should provide inspiration for many.

 

[Off Piste]

Up the Todra and down the Dades via the mountains

Up the Todra and down the Dades via the mountains can be a problem in April

I got stuck in the snow doing this route a few years ago.

Take local advice when you get there.

Tim

 

[Fanum]

Up the Todra and down the Dades via the mountains can be a problem in April

I got stuck in the snow doing this route a few years ago.

Take local advice when you get there.

Tim

It was impassible in November when we tried it;

And It was still impassible two weeks ago when I was there.

I'll give it another go in April...we should be doing it on or around the 14th or 15th

It's no big deal if you can't get through.......don't be tempted to try the alternative cut through route though unless you're in a group of decent riders......it's a hard piste

 

[peejay]

Up the Todra and down the Dades via the mountains can be a problem in April

I got stuck in the snow doing this route a few years ago.

Take local advice when you get there.

Tim

We did the Todra last April. The road was out down the bottom of the Todra so the river bed was in use, this was no problem. The locals told us that we wouldn't be able to cross to go down the Dades on GS's, and we were running on Tourances so we took their advice and went back down the Todra.

 

[reddude]

Guys
as ever, thanks for all the advice. Will hopefully take some good pics and post a ride report on the way or when back.

 

[reddude]

Coast Road -Tetouan - Al Hoceima - Taza

Guys
thinking of starting off via the coast road N16 and then south to Taza on the R505. Anybody done this recently and got any advice. Is there any of the Rif dope hassle on this route?

The new maps show this as being upgraded from a yellow to a red route....

Ta