Mount Toubkal Winter Ascent — January 2024 Summit Report¶

North Africa's highest peak in winter is a completely different proposition from the summer hike. Starting from Imlil village, we trekked through snow-covered Berber valleys to the Toubkal Refuge. The summit day required full winter mountaineering equipment. The reward was solitude — we saw only two other parties in three days compared to hundreds in summer.

Trip Overview¶

Mountain: Mount Toubkal (4167m) Date: January 20, 2024 Duration: 3 days Party Size: 4 Outcome: Summit

Conditions¶

Weather: Cold and clear. Winter conditions transformed the normally easy trek into a proper mountaineering objective. Fresh snow from the previous week had consolidated well. Snow: 60cm snowpack above 3,500m, hard-packed on windward slopes. Crampons essential. Temperature: -15°C to 2°C Wind: Strong 30-40 km/h on the ridge, sheltered in the valley

Difficulty Assessment¶

Summer Grade 1 becomes winter Grade 3. The final scree slope transforms into a steep snow/ice climb requiring crampons and ice axes. Navigation above the refuge can be challenging in whiteout conditions.