Tomorrow, Thursday 15th March 2012, a group of Maltese climbers shall be undertaking a privately funded expedition to Morocco to climb Mt Toubkal, the highest peak in the High Atlas, Morocco. At 4167m (13,670ft) it is also the highest peak in North Africa.
The team consists of 5 persons – 4 men and 1 woman who shall start their ascent on Friday 16th to summit latest on Sunday 18th March, depending on prevailing weather conditions.
All members are ex-Kilimanjaro climbers but this is a different climb as it is a winter one and sub zero temperatures and deep snow / ice are expected for the last 1000m of the climb. The team is in fact equipped with ice axes, crampons and full mountaineering clothing.
This is not the first time this mountain has been climbed by someone from Malta, but given the dangers of a winter climb (mainly altitude sickness, hypothermia, difficult climbing conditions and avalanches) the aim of this climb is to raise the profile of the sport as it is practiced by Maltese climbers and that of the Malta Climbing Club particularly the mountaineering section of the same Club.
The MCC wishes the Toubkal Team the best of luck in their endeavors!
Josef N. Grech
Head of MCC Mountaineering section