To run up the highest mountain in North Africa is a noble goal. The toubkal summit trail run is one of our hardest guided trail runs, and definitely something you should train well for in advance.
Leave the village of Imlil behind before dawn breaks, and follow this trail along the normal route up Mount Toubkal. An hour of moderate grade mountain running will take you to the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch. From here the trail gets steeper, zigzagging up the hillside and then flattening out after another 90 minutes to the Toubkal refuge at 3200m. This is where you will begin to feel the altitude!
Ahead lies 1000m of steep screes, and a difficult ascent. This can take 2-3h and is more of a powerwalk than a run. Toubkal is notorious for its scree slopes, and running up them is very draining. The path passes through boulder fields and steep traversing paths towards the coll of Tizi Toubkal. The altitude difference and thin air will definitely be felt now. A final exposed traverse brings you out onto the summit plateau. The metal tripod marks the summit, a welcome sight after all the ascent.
From here it’s back the way you came. The screes are treacherous on the descent and one slip could have disastrous consequences so take it steady.
Back at the Toubkal refuge there is food and water available to buy should you need it. Then comes a pleasant jog of an hour or two back down to Imlil, on a much easier gradient. Having reached the rarified summit so quickly, you will be amazed at how much thicker the air begins to feel once you are heading back towards Imlil!
A rewarding but hard trail, the Toubkal run should be on the agenda for every serious runner who visits Morocco!
