Jebel Toubkal Morocco - Final Results

A huge ‘Thank-You’ to all our Donors and Supporters

Now that the accounts have been finalised we are pleased to tell you that as a result of the Sponsorship for the Toukbal Mountain Expedition, the proceeds have been distributed as follows:

£500.00 to the British Heart Foundation

£300.00 to ‘Backcare’

£500.00 to the Scout Group

We would also like to acknowledge a further £500.00 for the Scout Group from Lloyds Banking Group – given in support of this event.

We would like to sincerely thank all those persons and organisations who sponsored the Expedition and can assure them that the proceeds have been put to good purpose. The Scout Group purchased lightweight expedition and safety equipment for use by the Young People and their Trained Leaders.

Jebel Toubkal Morocco - The Expedition

After a long 12 months of hard training the moment of truth came at 12:15pm on Wednesday the 23^rd September 2009 – the first steps towards the 4,167 metre Jebel Toubkal Peak (the highest mountain in North Africa & only second to Kilimanjaro in the whole of Africa) had begun.

After finding a mule, muleteer & provisions, the friends of 1^st Irthlingborough Scout Group, Nick Powell (Group Scout Leader), Adam Noble (Explorer Leader), Shaun Pentlow (Group Treasurer), Jenny Kings (Scout Assistant Leader), Julie Noble (Group Supporter) and Mark Hollis (Group Supporter), heaved on their heavy back sacks, and started on their challenge of a lifetime, in over 25 degrees centigrade heat.

The early steps were full of optimism, trekking through Berber Villages, and watching the local children climb walnut trees (some of which were precariously growing over very deep valleys), picking their annual harvest.

After leaving the village, the team walked through dried up riverbeds and flood plains and eventually reached Sidi Chammharouch. This ia a small Muslim Religious Shrine, which at 2,350 metres gave everyone a great view where they had come from along with a well deserved rest.

The team at the start in Imelil.

Left to right: Mark Hollis, Julie Noble, Adam Noble, Shaun Pentlow, Jenny Kings, Nick Powell

After the break and a waterfall crossing, the path grew increasing steeper and more challenging. The team were now starting to really suffer with tiredness. This was not helped by the fact that they were all up at 1:30am the night before to catch the plane from Luton airport to Marrakesh. The team continued relentlessly,though breaks were needed more and more frequently.

The challenge was now to reach the shelter (base camp) before darkness. At about 6pm the team turned a corner and the Shelter came in to view. Spirits were lifted, and with just 15 minutes left to sundown, the team arrived at Les Mouflons shelter at 3,207 metres. The next big challenge was just walking up the stairs to the dormitory!

After an early night and some food, plus checking various bits of body for strains, bruises and various blisters (in places i'm told you couldn’t imagine), the team set about getting ready for the Peak.

The team climbing near Sidi Chammharouch

Over breakfast, it was clear that a big underestimation of the thin air and altitude sickness had been made. Even though the team had been up almost 24 hours (over 6 hours of which was climbing), sleep had been difficult. One member of the team, reluctantly decided, and bravely accepted, that they could not go for the top.

And so it came down to five to go for the peak!

Having started early, a couple of major challenges in the shape of a very steep scree slope along with some rock climb which took the team over an hour to beat were encountered. The path then varied between scree, rocks and general lose shale. Eventually the team turned to see the top of Jebel Toubkal, an awe inspiring sight, towering above them.

It needed one more huge effort, but by now the team were above 4000 meters and the thinning air made every step a real struggle, with some members literally taking two steps then having to stop to rest.

Morale was low, but the team many of whom had known each other for over 20 years, used all their combined experience to urge each other on.

Suddenly, there it was! Just over 100 metres away was the top of the trig point, the highest point in North Africa. Reinvigorated by the sight of their goal, the team made their way towards the triangular point and eventually at 12:45pm they made it!

Emotions were as high as the team took in the 4,167 meters they had just climbed!

On Top!!

Left to right: Nick Powell, Shaun Pentlow (standing), Adam Noble (Red Top), Mark Hollis (Standing), Jenny Kings (Pink Hat)

As is the done thing in these situations, the team left a 1^st Irthlingborough Scout Necker tied to the Trig Point and having taken in the magnificent views, they reluctantly started the descent; only having accomplished ½ the expedition!

Very slowly, and carefully they picked their way back down the mountain. It started to snow, then there was sleet and eventually hail. With full winter kit now on and using trekking poles the team made it safely back at base camp and shelter after 6 hours and were reunited with the team member who had not gone to the top.

Friday 25^th September 2009 and the team were up early (again), this time with a lot more aches and pains. The decent back down to Imelil began and the more the team walked, the more the pace of the descent increased. Having knocked a whole hour off their accent time, the team arrived safely back to their mini bus.

Adam Celebrating!

Just eight months after a Major Back Operation!!!

Only after they had made it back to the minibus was it understood just how much the thin air had effected the whole expedition.

Jebel Toubkal Morocco

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The Friends of 1^st Irthlingborough

Jebel Toubkal Morocco

4,167 meters, highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and North Africa

23^rd - 27^th September 2009

Seven friends of 1^st Irthlingborough Scout Group will be climbing Jebel Toubkal in Morocco, the equivalent of three Ben Nevis's to raise funds for the Scout Group & the British Heart Foundation.

After last years succesful expedition to Scotland where the Group succesfully conqured Ben Nevis (click here to see the photos) whilst carrying up the Groups 100 year Trek Cart (Click here for the full story) we thought this would be a great New Challenge!! Please Support Us!!

Celebrating the 2008 Ben Nevis Expedition

Jebel Toubkal is a mountain peak in southwestern Morocco, located in the Toubkal National Park. At 4,167 meters, it is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains and in North Africa. It is located 63 km south of the city of Marrakech, in the Toubkal National Park.

All Funds Raised will be split 50 / 50

50% to 1^st Irthlingborough Scout Group to purchase new equipment & help maintain the Scout Headquarters for the Young People of Irthlingborough.

50% to help Lloyds Banking Group fund 15 specialist BHF Heart Nurses for the next three years. Every £45,000 raised will fund a BHF nurse for a year providing vital care and support to heart patients and their families across the UK.

There is currently only one BHF Heart Nurse for every 6,500 heart patients. Please help us improve on these statistics.