Brentwoodian 2019

12 Morocco Over the summer thirteen Lower Sixth students, RSM Hill, Miss Fleming and Mr Carr travelled to Morocco to complete an 11-day expedition in the Atlas Mountains. This once-in-a-lifetime experience would result in us summiting Mount M’Goun (aka ‘The Monster of Africa’) which is over 4,000 metres high. After months of preparation in the form of meetings, team briefings and training, this exciting opportunity began bright and early at 1.45am on Friday 2nd August, with the group assembling at school to set off for Morocco. We arrived in the lively and culture-packed city of Marrakech later that afternoon, where we were greeted by our mountain tour guides. Whilst we were only here for one day, as a group we were still able to explore the chaotic souks, enjoy traditional Moroccan cuisine and all together have a taste for the culture of Morocco, before setting off for the mountains the next day. After a long (and hot) seven-hour journey to camp one, we had truly left civilisation behind and were now ready to begin one of the most demanding physical challenges many of us had ever been faced with. With help from our brilliant mountain guides, Abdel and Abdellah, we were introduced to what the routine of camp life would be for the next nine nights. With tents set up, and the group beginning to settle into camp, and time to kill before our first dinner under the stars, we headed down to the river nearby for our first river wash. It’s safe to say after that and an early night we were ready for anything. The real challenge began at 6am the following morning. Each day involved between six to eight hours of trekking with a lunch break in the middle. Our first day of hiking involved us entering and beginning to walk through the magnificent Valley of the Roses. With camp morale high after a good night’s sleep and fulfilling breakfast we set off for camp two. Whilst legs began to ache, sandals starting to rub and the impact of the first day beginning to hit, the team powered through and made it camp two. To end what had been an incredible first day of hiking, the team cooled off in the nearby stream and chilled with games and good food in the communal tent. Much like day one, day two continued through the incredible, red-rock, Valley of the Roses. After the previous, exhausting day of walking, many of the group opted for the stylish look of socks and sandals, to protect our feet from further blisters. Day two involved us as a group trekking through a water- filled valley. With waist high water gushing past us, the team persevered onwards, kept our balance and made it to camp three, leaving the Valley of the Roses behind us. After an exhilarating day, the group cooled off in a nearby river and concluded our day with a water fight with our tour guides. We awoke to good news! We could all finally put our sandals away and our walking boots could be worn. Day three saw a change in terrain and incline. With a large amount of the walking swapping to uphill and the altitude beginning to change, the team as a whole had to adjust. Thankfully we all had the ‘camel step’ to get us through the tough parts and slowly, but surely we made it to camp four. Day four. Where to begin? What was supposed to be a short day to give us the afternoon off before summit day the next day, turned into one of the toughest and confusing of them all! After our original camp was taken by another group of ambitious hikers, we had to find a new place, therefore a three- hour day turned into a six-hour one! However, every cloud has a silver lining as a couple of us were able to ride mules to finish off the last stretch of what was a difficult day. With the system and plan now in a muddle it was up to Abdel, Abdellah, Ryan, RSM Hill and Miss Fleming to come up with a "With us now walking along the ridge of the mountains being hit by 70mph winds, perseverance and determination were desperately needed."