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Advice on Atlas winter driving? Advice on Atlas winter driving?
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  #1  
Old 20 Dec 2017
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Advice on Atlas winter driving?
First time into the mountains during the winter: a southward loop south through Marakesh, Ouarzazate to MHamid in early January. Thinking to go home through Dades and Agoudal. Driving a Disco.

Rabat, land of spotlessly clean Range Rovers and Prados with shiny tires, is full of horror stories about the winter weather "down there." To hear the talk, you'd think you'd be lucky to see the mountains peeking out of the snow drifts. And then there's the flooding and the mud slides and the giant winged snakes and so on.

So could someone with actual experience inject a note of reality for me?

Specifically:

1. Just on likely road conditions, R317 north through the mountains to Tizi N'Isly or eastward to Midelt and up the N13? I don't like motorways, but I prefer them to being swept off the road by an avalanche, buried alive, or eaten by mountain trolls.

2. Would you expect MH4 to be passable in early January? Basically the same context as question 1: I like piste and I don't mind minor damage to the Landy. I want to avoid the relatives having to identify thawed out remains come spring.

Thank you for your thoughts.
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  #2  
Old 20 Dec 2017
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This was 6th February over Tizi n Test Not exactly what you asked but might add some background. Snowed overnight, Snowplough turned up midday and we followed them out.



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  #3  
Old 20 Dec 2017
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Oh yeah! Snow! Nice pic. Is that your camper rig?
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Old 20 Dec 2017
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Winged snakes and trolls! Where do I sign up .

High passes will be closed at the snow barriers if conditions are too bad. Otherwise ask the locals in the area about conditions before you set off. Clearing is pretty efficient in the sealed asphalt roads like the Test and Tichka passes.

Last week the High Atlas was free from snow around Imichil and Agoudal. Middle Atlas around Azrou and Ifrane had 0.5m around the 12th


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  #5  
Old 21 Dec 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rabat Matt View Post
Oh yeah! Snow! Nice pic. Is that your camper rig?
Yes, my biking days ended 50 years ago and nowadays we prefer comfort.

I just posted it as an example of how things changed. Was getting dark in perfect weather when we stopped for the night and next morning we weren't going anywhere for quite a while. Your trip is a lot earlier so I guess even more possibility of changeable conditions. Just need to be flexible.
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Old 21 Dec 2017
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Rain is your enemy. Best keep an eye on weather forecasts, if it suggests rain in Tinghir and rain in Khenifra, you should expect snow in Imilchil, coupled with the risk of flooding in the Todra Gorge.

All 'N' national roads will have snow barriers which will be lowered on adverse conditions, ditto most 'R' regional roads. Smaller roads may not.

R317 nine years ago: E11 Todra Descent

Another pic on: E20 Lakes of Tears

On the positive side, the innkeeper on the second thread experienced three days of solid English language tutoring.
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Old 21 Dec 2017
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In case the above posts are not clear, what they're saying is that conditions will vary, predictions are difficult, and you should be prepared to get stuck for bits here and there. If you're committed to a specific route, make sure you're not also committed to a specific schedule.

In my somewhat limited experience main roads are generally cleared of snow right down to bare, wet pavement in relatively short order. Secondary roads and backcountry tracks may be out of commission due to snow, rain, mud, washout, or biblical plagues. For the most accurate reports I ask the drivers of local transport--trucks, buses, grand taxis--about conditions ahead, but I don't commit until I hear the same thing from multiple sources.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark
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  #8  
Old 22 Dec 2017
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MH4 highly unlikely to be snowed right over. Seems the Middle Atlas gets it most.
Fyi the road from Tinerhir to Iknioun is just about all sealed now (did it in Nov)
Turn off at this roundabout (not KM0 rb, p115 in M3 book).
Keep left at the fork them first right.
Or keep right at fork via Ouaklim village - it all joins up.

There's a new hotel in Iknioun now.

Upper stages after the pass rougher then ever, but nothing a Discovery can't handle. Last 10km into Nekob (or maybe more by now) are a dirt motorway.

While you're in the area worth going up MH14 to KM31 - take link route up round the butte to MH15 KM69, and down towards the R108 (or up to Kella). Scenery will blow your mind.
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Old 24 Dec 2017
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Thanks a lot guys. Really appreciate the perspective and thoughts on routing. They'll be put to good use next week.

I am also more than a little envious of Tony's camper rig. It's got me back to dreaming of an Airstream. Has there ever been an Airstream in Morocco? It would look pretty good behind the Landy I think, and imagine retiring to your hot shower at the end of the day!
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Old 25 Dec 2017
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There are AIRSTREAMS and then there are Airstreams in name only like mine



Have fun in Morocco. Scenery is great but the locals can get a bit over the top at times. Put Turkey on your list for next time
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  #11  
Old 25 Dec 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
Rain is your enemy. Best keep an eye on weather forecasts, if it suggests rain in Tinghir and rain in Khenifra, you should expect snow in Imilchil, coupled with the risk of flooding in the Todra Gorge.

All 'N' national roads will have snow barriers which will be lowered on adverse conditions, ditto most 'R' regional roads. Smaller roads may not.

R317 nine years ago: E11 Todra Descent

Another pic on: E20 Lakes of Tears

On the positive side, the innkeeper on the second thread experienced three days of solid English language tutoring.


Nice pics and stuffs
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  #12  
Old 26 Jan 2018
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Hello everyone, thought I'd bump this thread rather than start a new one.

I'm going to Morocco for the first time around middle to end of next month. I'm mainly thinking in terms of getting to the southern part of the country (Nekob, Zagora etc) before swinging west a bit and heading back north.

I've been looking at the routes in Morocco Overland, and from the description of the MH1 route it looks like the porridge may be bit too hot for an off-road incompetent like me on a loaded up F800GS in the Mid Atlas mountains in February. Given the possibilities of snow do you think I'd be better just shooting down N13 like a coward and getting to Errachidia or similar, or is there a more reliable but still interesting route? I've just got something I read by Tim Cullis in my head about avoiding the comparatively boring N roads.

Thanks
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Old 26 Jan 2018
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The worst bit of MH1 is between Midelt and Imichil but is only fairly short and has a tarmac detour available. The drop down from Agoudal to Dades is fairly easy if snow isn't blocking it. I haven't been that way for over a year but KM110 - 132 ish can be tough.

The descent from agoudal was closed a couple of weeks ago but should be open again now. stop at auberge Ibrahim in Agoudal and ask if unsure.
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  #14  
Old 26 Jan 2018
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Oh and if it is closed, stay on the r703 and drop down to Todra, asphalt the whole way
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Old 26 Jan 2018
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Brilliant, thanks. Looks like I'll N13 it from Meknes to Midelt and on to Agoudal then try my luck from there. Thanks again.
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