Morocco and back May 7, 2008
In one and a half month you really get to experience a whole lot of things. The past period I spent in Morocco; climbing, bolting, playing and enyoing music, visiting my family and travelling all over the country. First off I headed south, over the Atlas mountains to the classic climbing area of gorges de Todra. Along on the trip was a friend from Sweden, Kalle "Kalleballecamel" Boström. We climbed around Todra but also the relatively new area of Imeter. Such luxury; there were newly bolted routes yet to see a FA so we had loads of fun completing what someone had left undone.
photo: Jonas Paulsson/www.highandlow.nu
But I didn't bring 200 bolts for nothing. After a couple of days of rapelling down chossy rock I finally found a really nice line; about 15 meters long, starting steep and leading into a tufa headwall. It took about one day to clean and bolt the thing. Meanwhile a posse of filmmakers arrived from Sweden; Emil Sergel (producer), Danne Bengtsson (video) and Jonas Paulsson (video+still). We teamed up to film a new movie with the projectname "Catching Relity". It's basically about us travelling for climbing and music around Morocco. In maybe a not so near future on www.petzl.com!
Getting ready to bolt with the worst drill I ever used! But you can't be so picky, it's Morocco after all.
The new creatino; Oulad Bambara (the sons of Bambara, an important part of the gnawaritual), 8c. photo: Jonas Paulsson/www.highandlow.nu
We spent the biggest part of the time working in the mountains but also had time to head down to the dunes of Merzouga, the beginning of the Sahara desert.
After we finished filming the climbing part we hit the road for the mythical city of Marrakesh.
Emil Sergel; working befor, under and after the road.
Marrakesh, defenetly one of my favourite places in the world. I was here by myself just before the team arrive to enter some gnawamusic rituals. You can play this music just for amusement but traditionally it's played in trance rituals, still very common in the depths of Morocco. We came to pic up some music and city shots, among the musicians we recorded was my teachers (Christer Bothén's) teacher; Abdellatif Sidi Amara.
With my friend Mostafa and the legendary gnawamaster Abdellatif Sidi Amara.
A typical scene from the square of Djemaa El Fna i Marrakesh.
After all the work was done I went to Rabat to visit my family witch means; load of fun, too much food, music en masse, no climbing... The last part being a lie as I took the wole family of over 20 persons climbing on a nearby slab one day. Didn't climb anything classic but it was easily one of the best days of the trip.
Gnawa Rabat style.
My uncle Taibis wife Tahra trying climbing for the first (and maybe but hopefully not) and last time in her life supported by my cousin Kaoutar.
The Morocco chapter is unfortunately over for this time. After not climbing for a few weeks it was time to get back to buisness. After a 9 hour drive we are now in Archidona, the home of Chilam Balam 9b+. Myself I'm trying to beat the heat and the feeling of getting pumped before you should. To be continued...
good job, this report is really nice. dommage i miss this trip...maybe the next....
Isn't this ... Oued Yquem? (the last pic)
You should bring them to Benslimane next time, we've equiped new routes there ;o)
Can't wait to see what You & Mimoun had made with all these bolts :p
A-Z
Hej Said! Tack för alla tips om Marocco och Todra. Var grymt att ha när vi åkte dit över nyår 2007/2008.
i praid of you
Hello Said, I work as journalist for the program TV ' Morocains du Monde' diffused on 2M. I am currently making prospection for the next season. On Internet i founded articles and information concerning you, I will want to discuss it directly with you if that is possible… Thank you to communicate to me your direct phone number. (sorry for my english)
Tarik DAOUDI
Journaliste - Réalisateur
+212 (0)61 09 67 28
said eres un idolo para mi escalando y porque eres musulman como yo,soy de meknes pero nacido en gran canaria,para decirte que te invito venir a mi casa a gran canaria e ir a escalar los dos para enseñarte las zonas muy buenas,puedes preguntar a dani andrada o a chris por las vias,ya sabes said te invito a mi casa e ir a escalar seria para mi un orgullo ir con um maquina como tu te deceo lo mejor said ichaalla mi num.667020840 viva todos los musulmanes y marruecos,sigue asi said
cool picturess!!!!!
Hej hej Said, It is me Mauricio again from Colombia, I am living in uppsala and we met a year ago in goteborg. I am still in uppsala, but i'm planning to go to morroco in december to travel and go rock climbing. I was wondering if you know the cheapest, safest way to go? which places would you recommnend? how are prices there, food, staying etc?, do you usually travel from spain or which other way can it be?.
thank you for helping me if you can. How is your life ? where are you now?
un abrazo
Mauricio
Hi,I found your blog in Internet could you give me some information about climbing in Todra? My team (3 persons) would like to climb 2 days in rocks in Morocco during our trip.Is it possibility to rent there the climbing equipment, because we won't want to take all heavy equipment from Poland :P How much does it cost? We would like to try some simple routes narly 5a - 6a. maybe you know some climbers from Todra and you can give us an contact. Thanks for help. Ada
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