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| Trip Dates: 20th March-1st April 2004
Flight: Heathrow to Casablanca Team Members: Frazer Pearce, Adrian Healy, Tamsin Gay, Helen Barclay, Fi Houston and Stevie Hanson |
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Morocco - grade 3 boating with grade 5 scenary just about sums it up. Throw in several potential multiday trips and some of the friendliest and most helpful people in the world and you're on to a winner. Especially as this is only 4 hours flight away from the UK and the season is Easter.
Oum al Rbia
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| Tamsin on the Sources Oum al Rbia | Local transportation |
Ahensal
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| Stevie contemplating packing | Civil engineering |
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| Tamsin surfing at the camp spot | Helen enters the gorge |
Ouzoud
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| Guidebook photo | ...with kayaks |
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| Stevie running not the biggest | Awesome |
Scenary
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| Morroco | Camels |
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| Kasbah | Hilltown |
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| Nomads | Dunes |
| River |
Grade |
Distance(km) |
Time(hrs) |
| Oum al Rbia |
II/III |
7 |
2 |
| Oum al Rbia |
III/IV(V+) |
15 |
5 |
| Oum al Rbia |
II/III(III+) |
25 |
4 |
| Ahensal |
III/IV |
30 |
2days/(8hrs) |
| Ouzoud |
Yes(no) |
3 |
3 |
| El Abid |
II/III |
8 |
2 |
Logistics:
Flew to Casablanca from Heathrow with Royal Air Maroc, no problems with boats
either direction, booked a landrover with driver;
Company: Rediscover (www.rediscover.co.uk) Booked with: Andy Scase, Tel:
08707 406 306 Fax: 08707 406 316 andy@rediscover.co.uk Local contact: Susan
Haddouche. Tel: 04 882 1015. They were professional and excellent.
Cost around 100UKP/day including fuel. Long wheelbase landy could take 7(plus
driver) at a push, ideal for 6 with space for kit.
Good map: Hildebrandt's Roadmap of Morocco ISBN 3-88989-283-3 http://www.hildebrandts.de
(has several minor roads you need marked)
Guide: Marokko, Franz und Marlen Riegel, Pollner Verlag 1990, ISBN 3-925660-11-9
(kayak guide in german but quite comprehensive).
Maroc: Oueds du moyen atlas, Canoe & Kayak Magazie, 1978 onwards (7 parts
in french)
Additional river notes:
As always river information is buyer beware. Grades
are ours, real and on the day.
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 20m²/s
Grade: II/III
Distance: 7km
Date: 21st March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 16:00 Finish 18:00
Duration: 2hrs
Geology/Features: Arable land interspersed with cuttings through old lava
flows.
Put in: Cafe on river left (road right) just before you get to El Borj
Take out: Obvious lay-by river left, just after big red/white transmitter
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 10m²/s
Grade: III/IV(V+)
Distance: 15km
Date: 22nd March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 11:30 Finish 17:00
Duration: 5hrs
Geology/Features: Lots of III drops packed together with a couple at IV-.
One portage (river left), bit of a slog up the bank. Few km of gorge at the
end.
Put in: Sources Oum al Rbia
Take out: Tanefnit (second bridge from top)
Oum al Rbia
Flow: 15m²/s
Grade: II/III(III+)
Distance: 25km
Date: 22nd March 2004 + 23rd March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 17:00 Finish 19:20, plus 13:00 to 15:00
Duration: 4hrs
Geology/Features: Bimble through Arable land with one narrow constriction
through a lava flow close to the end.
Put in: Tanefnit (see above)
Take out: Cafe on river left (road right) just before you get to El Borj
Ahensal
Flow: 25m²/s
Grade: III/IV
Distance: 30km
Date: 24th-25th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Adrian, Helen, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 13:00 24th, finish 17:00 25th
Duration: 2 days (7hrs on river/lake)
Geology/Features: Awesome scenary / canyons. III/IV for first 12km, then
easing though narrow canyons. Last 6km flat across lake (2.5 hours)
Put in: Tilougitte
Take out: Near to barrage (right as facing it from lake) up landy track.
Ouzoud
Flow: 5m²/s
Grade: Yes(no)
Distance: 3km
Date: 26th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 11:30, finish 15:00
Duration: 3hrs
Geology/Features: 3km packed with yes/no pooldrop. Most 15ft-ish, one at
30ft, lovely piecemeal or seallaunch. Most scenic put-on in the world ?
Put in: Cascade d'Ouzoud
Take out: see El Abid below
El Abid
Flow: 5m²/s
Grade: II/III
Distance: 8km
Date: 26th March 2004
Paddlers: Frazer, Tamsin, Fi, Stevie
Time: Start 15:30, finish 17:30
Duration: 2hrs
Geology/Features: 8km easing from pretty gorge to agricultrural meanders.
Put in: see Ouzoud above
Take out: Tabia - village with communication mast, river left
