Toubkal (, ), also Jbel Toubkal or Jebel Toubkal, is a mountain in central Morocco, located in the Toubkal National Park. At , it is the highest peak in Morocco, the Atlas Mountains, North Africa and the Arab world. Located south of the city of Marrakesh, and visible from it, Toubkal is an ultra prominent peak, the highest for over . Toubkal is ranked 27th by topographic isolation.

The most common route to reach the summit of Toubkal starts from the village of Imlil in the High Atlas. The ascent typically takes two days and includes an overnight stay at a mountain refuge. The route is considered non-technical but requires good physical fitness due to the altitude.

Geography

Although much of the High Atlas consists of sedimentary rocks, the Toubkal massif is an area of volcanic rocks which have weathered into alpine crests, cut by deep, narrow valleys. To the south, the mountain drops steeply down for to a small lake called Lac d'Ifni. To the west, the mountain's edge is marked by a pass, the Tizi n'Ouanoums at . From this pass, the mountain's W-S-W ridge rises up to Toubkal West, which forms a shoulder at before continuing to the summit at .

The north and western sides of Toubkal drain down to the Mizane Valley, which has the passes of both Tizi n'Ouanoums and Tizi n'Ouagane at its head. Two hanging valleys on the western side of the mountain - the Ikhibi Nord and Ikhibi South provide ready access for trekkers and climbers to reach Toubkal's summit. At one time the northern valley provided the normal route of ascent, but the construction of a mountain hut by the French Alpine Club below Ikhibi Sud now encourages trekkers to ascend via the southern route instead. Qualified guides can be hired, as well as porters, to carry equipment and food supplies higher into the mountains. It is a moderate hike and navigation is not a problem.

The normal route starts with a walk to the village of Aroumd. Beyond Aroumd, a floodplain is crossed and the route follows the left slope of the valley southwards. The valley bends to the east to the tiny settlement of Sidi Chamharouch, which has grown around a Muslim shrine. At Sidi Chamharouch, the path leads over the stream and runs steeply uphill to the right side of the Isougouane valley, which leads to two stone-built refuges (Refuge du Toubkal and Refuge Les Mouflons) that are often used as base camp at .

Routes

thumb|The highest peak of Toubkal

The first recorded ascent was on 12 June 1923 by the Marquis de Segonzac, Vincent Berger and Hubert Dolbeau, but the mountain may well have been climbed before that date. Toubkal's height was measured the following year, and determined as being

References

  • Mount Toubkal Group Tours
  • Routes up Mount Toubkal
  • What to wear on Mount Toubkal in winter?
  • Summitpost.org page about Jbel Toubkal
  • Photo Gallery of Jebel Toubkal and the High Atlas
  • Useful information on climbing Toubkal