Mt Toubkal is considered a stepping stone into the world of altitude mountaineering, but is it really for beginners?

For some context, my names Chris Tomlinson. I’m a UK mountain leader, personal trainer and I’ve been involved in coaching clients for events and bucket list achievements for around 17 years.

I’ve prepped clients in professional sport and worked alongside ordinary day-to-day adventurers wanting to achieve extraordinary goals.

More recently, I made connections in Morocco, and expanded my group offerings for clients to the high Atlas Mountains, as a natural increase in level for those looking for something more adventurous than what the UK has to offer.

Mt Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa, standing at 4167m. Although this isn’t a ‘technical mountain’ and skill level is relatively low, fitness must be high.

At this altitude the oxygen availability is approximately 40% lower than at sea level & Vo2 max has a reduction of roughly 6.3% to 10% per 1,000 meters above 1,600 meters.

The difference between summer and winter ascents are night and day.

In the summer, you’ll have mules to aid carrying weight to the refuge, visible paths to follow, it’s likely to be dry and you won’t need as much clothing/kit/weight.

In the winter, Toubkal, like many winter summits, becomes a different beast.

You’re battling high winds, freezing temperatures and carrying everything you need.

Food, water, warm clothing, spares of everything, ice axes, and emergency shelters etc.

Earlier in the month, I headed up a team to summit Mt Toubkal.

The first day consists of a 6 hour ascent just up to the refuge at 3200m from the village of Imlil.

We got battered with wind, snow, hail but finally managed to seek shelter.

Sleeping is broken and irritable due to the altitude and body trying to acclimatise itself.

Personally, I had a resting HR of around 88bpm, when at sea level is normally around 45bpm.

Reaching the summit, there was a few tears from the group, smiles that have broken through after the doubt, and the reward of an epic sunrise.

Despite the 50mph wind gusts and -17 temperature.

If one persons HR in the group is reaching zone 5 on the climbs, whereas another persons is zone 2.

The first person is going to be expending too much energy and won’t be able to sustain the pace.

Because at the end of the day, we love the outdoors for adventure, and thats what we do it for.