morocco update from London

wed 9-22 1,000 m elevation gain and 700 m elevation loss down to our camp on a broad plateau that we share with other trekking groups and noads and their herds of goats. Overcast but very picturesque. tomorrow we go to the peak of M'Goun which involves a hike with an elevation gain of about 5,000 ft (1,650 m?) and the same amount of descent on the othedr side. We are going up to an elevation of 4,070 m. It works fine and I am glad not to have the nausea or headache I know that some people get at such altitudes. Liz 73) is a bit slow and I hang back to encourage and distract her and it all works well. Long relatively level ridge is the final approach and quite nice. We share the ridge with other trekkers, mainly French, but they all return the way they came and we descent to the M'Goun river valley several thousand feet below where we find camp, the muleteers and the members of our group who chose not to go up to the peak. Descent included lots of scree and was much fun. my repaired ankle has given me no problem at all. In camp we are just hanging about and chatting about travel arrangements among many other topics when someone says to me 'you heard about the labour problems that Air Transit is having didn't you?' Actually I didn't but that is quite a ways away and I am sure will sort itself out even if it invovles me coming home a different way than planned.
MonfRIDAY sEPT 24 A short day of 6 hours on the trail that ended up being 8 hours walking. all tired and thirsty. stopped at a tiny store in a very small village. bought water, fanta, cookies and apples. |Terry asked the price of a fancy dress. ratherthan telling her the price the shopkeeper put the dress on her with a fancy head scarf and proceeded to do her make up in a traditional Berber pattern and |Terry ended up buying the dress and head scarf (200 dirham about $25 canadian)she looked amazing and very different. she took the dress off as we walked through the village but still had the makeup on to the amusement and amazement of the women and children in the village. Women were working in the fields in fancy dresses and makeup? We got to camp and discussed alternative routes for the remainder of the trek. Original route had lots of walking in the river which people were looking forward to but Mo was concerned with rising water levels. We decided to take alternative route thatinvovled crossing two mountain passes and some walking in the river. Good decision I think.