Jebel Sahro (April 2014) -- Part 1: From nOuarg Valley to Tizi nTagourt

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Map.

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(Trek itinerary is in red dotted line. Big red dots labeled by numbers designate night camps.)

 

Valley of Assif n′Ouarg, looking toward Tizi n′Ouarg. The farm of Ichou′s father, where we spent night #1, is in the forefront. It is located at the very end of a dust road, a couple of kilometers south of the small village of Imi n′Ouarg.

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Ichou′s father preparing tea in his house.

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Ichou and his mule at the first pass above his father′s farm.

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Views over the valley of Qalaat Mgouna and Boumalne with the central High Atlas in the background.

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Approaching Tizi n′Ouarg (from the south).

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Sometimes tiny water ponds hide between rocks. Frogs, toads, and, even more surprisingly, leeches live there. A few times our mule got leeches attached to her gums while drinking from such ponds. Removing leeches from a mule′s mouth is not an easy task!

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At Tizi n′Ouarg looking down toward Imi n′Ouarg.

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Ichou′s farm, where we spent night #2. It is the last settlement in the valley of Assif n′Ouarg. Ichou′s and his father′s farms are separated by less than 4km along the Assif n′Ouarg, but we hiked a much longer path through mountain terrain instead.

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Ichou preparing tea in his house (like father, like son!).

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Sunset over the Kouach mountain.

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Ichou loading the mule with the help of his son, Idir. Ichou′s mule was especially good-natured and affectionate.

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Rock outcrop above Ichou′s farm, on the side of Mt. Kouach.

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Stunning views over the southern part of Jebel Sahro from a ridge behind Mt. Kouach.

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Nomad camps.

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View of Tassigdelt Tamajgalt on the right and the rock towers of Bab n′Ali at a far distance on the left.

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On the trail along Tassigdelt Tamajgalt.

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Other landscapes before reaching Igli.

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The southern side of Tassigdelt Tamajgalt.

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Tassigdelt Tamajgalt seen from Igli where we spent night #3.

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The Camel′s head at sunrise.

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Other views of the Camel′s Head from the south.

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Other surrounding landscapes.

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Views of the Elelephant′s Head. (In the last picture the Camel′s Head is visible on the right-hand side of the photo.)

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Click on the following links to see photos of other sections of the trip:

- Jebel Sahro, Part 2: from Tizi n′Tagourt to Qalaat Mgouna,

- Central Atlas, Part 1: from Qalaat Mgouna to Assif Imejdag,

- Central Atlas, Part 2: from Assif Imejdag to Zawyat Ahancal.

 

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