Entering The High Atlas

Inspiration / Your Stories

Once again we ran for the hills…

Author Photo

By Logan

PUBLISHED May 22, 2014

11
Conversation

With snow capped peaks at over 4,000 meters, the High Atlas range dominated the skyline for miles as we moved north. Right now the air is still crisp in these mountains. The sky is a deep sea of cobalt creating a tack sharp contrast with the reddish brown rock that zigzags across the horizon. The streams are swollen as the last traces of snow are being smelted by the quickly warming spring air. A time of year when mountains beckon.

We pieced together several routes from Google Earth, local maps and advice from people we met along the way. Here are photos and stories (part 1 of 2):

The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Playing some mountain music.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes
Old roads crumbling.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

The valley floor creates a green carpet far below.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes
A long steady climb over 2 days.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes

The last bit of pavement we’d see for a while.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

One of my favorite things about high altitude is the strange shapes and textures that clouds form.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco Surly Troll, Surly ECR, Bike Touring
Stopping in the last village where we might find a Coke for a couple of days.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Women and their donkeys returning from the fields.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The deep skies and clouded sunlight continued to capture my camera’s attention.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Delicate and interesting little plants high in the crags.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
A strange building complete with Berber writing, illustrations and a sheep skin.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes
Goat tracks disappear into a gorge.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas, Dirt Road Routes
The next morning we begin day 2 of an eternal climb.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Goats cling to the side of a steep mountainside.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
Looking back on a long valley.
Bike Touring Morocco - Dirt Route, The High Atlas
A switchback we rounded some time ago.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
GORP, or ORAP (only raisins and peanuts), as Gin mistakenly called it.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The beautiful dirt road that we were putting behind us.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Watering hole.
The High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
These puffs of briars and brittle branches seem to keep you company as they cling to the hills.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
Gin clearing another ridge switchback.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
The descent into the next valley.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
Swatches of green are painted by springs in the valley below.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas

A Berber shepherd.
Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas Bike Touring Morocco - The High Atlas
Snowy peaks show themselves in the distance.
2014-05-high-atlas-main

Stay tuned for the next set of photos from the High Atlas…

For more information on this route, including GPS and logistics, click here. Also, check out our growing list of bikepacking and dirt road touring routes.

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Inspiration

Your Stories

 bike-touring-morocco  

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.

Bikepacking Collective

We're independent
and member-supported.
Join the Bikepacking Collective to make our work possible:

Join Now