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Glad the book was useful. Sounds like you used an old edition.
I will do the first update to the new edition in a couple of days, noting some of the things you said. 3 hrs to get out of Tan Med sounds like a disaster, especially on a bike. Good to hear MH8 is in good shape - not done that for years. I have been up and down MH4 a few times in recent weeks - definitely on the rough side at the moment; the last group were not impressed. They say it's for pylons coming down from Nour solar plant near Ozt, but if they are going to make 2 lanes north of Bab-n-Ali right over the Tazazert Pass to the Iknioun road, they have a whole lot of rock-blasting to do. Just rode on to on the Santander ferry myself after 6 weeks away. TFF heated clothing and grips! |
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Hi Chris, I have the 2nd edition - June 2013? I'll buy the third if you're updating!
I spoke to the Auberge owner about MH4. He said tarmac all the way, but there was no sign of work on the Iknioun side. Were you out in the rain on Wednesday in north Morocco? I rode Genoa to Sion, Switzerland yesterday - 7.5 hours of snow and I don't think it got above freezing! Here's a pic of MH8 |
Cold snap and snowfall in parts of Morocco
Temperatures as low as minus 5ºC and some snowfall is forecast for tonight and tomorrow for the Middle Atlas and High Atlas area bounded by Azilal, Beni Mellal, Khénifra, Azrou, Ifrane, Sefrou, Boulemane, and Midelt. This weather pattern is not unusual, the Middle Atlas area is invariably the hardest hit by snow and Ifrane holds the record low temperature for Morocco of minus 27ºC. Official forecast: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/201...therf-morocco/ The forecast above might be a bit OTT, the local forecasts I normally use (weather.com) show Azrou is forecast with overnight low at minus 4ºC, Imlil at minus 8ºC, Chefchaouen and Ouarzazate hovering around freezing, Midelt at minus 2ºC, Khenifra at minus 1ºC, Ifrane at minus 5ºC. And of course wind chill will make the temperatures seem even lower. Snow is forecast in some places but nowhere near as deep as the original National Meteorological Directorate forecast of half a metre. But who knows? These are only forecasts. If you are planning to drive on the main N8 road from Fez to Marrakech or the main N13 road from Meknes to Midelt you will be passing through the area most affected. The Col du Zad on the N13 is likely to be quite bad. It seems there's snow likely also on the Tizi n'Tichka pass on the main N9 road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. This is from the forecast for the 2500m altitude in the locality, "A moderate fall of snow [12cm], heaviest on Mon afternoon. Freeze-thaw conditions (maximum 4°C on Mon morning, minimum minus 5°C on Mon night)." Most main roads that are subject to snow have snow barriers which will be lowered to prevent traffic if the conditions are dangerous. Snow ploughs are strategically located at the barriers so they can be quickly deployed, and you should normally expect roads to be open again within 24 hours of the snow stopping. The Moroccan authorities are normally good at laying grit on the roads, but still take care. |
There is good snow on Toubkal at the moment. As of Saturday night (9th Dec) Imichil, Agoudal area is free from snow and all roads clear, including Tizi N Ouano. I had a further confirmation tonight at 19:00 that there was no snow
I was in Ouirgane last night and whilst it was cold it was warmer than Ouarazazate the night before. Today there has been torrential rain from Marrakech across to Essaouira, whilst the forecast I saw doesn't give particularly low temperatures, there could well be fresh snow around. More rain and strong winds forecast tomorrow. I'm now in a comfy hotel in Essaouira as it's got too cold for camping for me. The road behind the esplanade was closed due to flooding at 18:00 and a lot of side roads are flooded as well. |
Tried MA3 again a couple of weeks ago and its still blocked at around KM95, looking at it it may e passable with a bit of effort. I saw tyre tracks east of the blockage and some rubber marks on the rocks. Also some evidence of attempts to repair the track here.
On my own I didn't risk it, nice detour at KM93 though, turn right up the river following the wheel ruts (fairly well defined). Olafs maps show a track here but the latest OSM show the track starting a few KM up the river. When you hit the mine piste at the top turn left at N29 41.531 W8 41.398. 2km down the road is KM103. The detour is actually a pretty nice route |
Don't have the new book on me but I'm pretty sure it identifies the MA3 detour as the new route up to the haul road via Ifesfas.
Strayed onto the old route in March (from both ends) and had the feeling a 4x4 could have managed it, but maybe not anymore. Last week we also 4x4'd the link route between MA14 and MA15 (mentioned in the book but not logged). Amazing west Sarhro scenery and easy enough from a GS1200 down. Good way of dodging the 2nd quarter of MA14 which Peter Girling said has gone to the dogs. We also tried the east end of MH7 (Jebel Sirwa) - me having tried the west end in March. Turn off on a switchback easy to miss and looked even less used than the Askaoun end. It was getting late and looking stormy so we gave up on that. Did 'MH19' trans Atlas southbound too, and this time took the narrow gorge exit route. This is actually the way most of the local traffic goes when it's not flooded/blocked. Another amazing drive. Full update here. |
I'm still using my battered first edition Chris ;) so probably missing some later updates.
With a spotter I probably could have got through on MA3's old route but on my own I didn't fancy fighting through only to find further difficult sections further east. Tried the east end of MH7 last Novemeber but backed out just past the switchback junction. Clearly not a regular route anymore with most of the traffic seeming to carry on to Amassine and then pick up the road just north. Did MA14 last week heading north, seemed to have been freshly graded from KM55 - KM93. |
https://www.facebook.com/CNEWSoffici...5995900951977/
Looks like 0.5m of snow around Ifrane Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
R704 Agoudal to Dades currently closed due to snow ☃️
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Just got some pics from my friends who crossed the tiz en ticka in a couple of camper vans, snow and the road is seriously knackered, apparently closed at night too. This was within the last couple of days. I barely recognised the road. They came across from sidi ifni and as they got nearer ourzazate the roads got slowly worse :rain:
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snowed in Zagora yesterday, only a little. Half a meter of fresh snow in Agoudal area
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Tizi n Tichka closed due to a rock slide. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...65c21b1236.jpg
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Imilchil...Agoudal snow
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It’s looking pretty bad around Imilchil and Agoudal area...... people snowed in and running out of food and firewood to keep warm.....asking for helicopter assistance on Facebook.
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So much for global warming, this has been one of the worst years for snow and disruption in Morocco with many roads blocked around the usual suspects (Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas).
The report below is from a couple of days ago, so some roads *might* now be navigable but many of the more remote ones won't be. https://www.bladi.net/IMG/pdf/maroc-route-coupes.pdf |
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