The High Atlas Mountains once served as a barrier between civilizations. The lands on the other side of the mountains are inhabited by Berber tribes, although the modern city of Ouarzazate, a center for film studios, is also there. Henry and I were very curious about these great mountains and the beauty they held, so we hired a driver to take us there. The drive from Marrakech took about 4.5 hours, and would have been impossible before the French built the road in the 1920’s. At first, it was only one lane, though today it is a well-paved, 2-lane highway. There are two passes through the High Atlas Mountains, one, the Tizi-n-Ait Imger Pass at a lower altitude of 1,470 meters/4,825 feet; and, the second, the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass at the higher altitude of 2,260 meters/7,417 feet. Neither of these passes compare to the 3,810 meter/12,500 foot high passes, Wolf Creek Pass or Independence Pass, both crossing the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA; but nevertheless, the switch-back turns and high altitude of the High Atlas Mountain pass is grueling.  As a passenger, and I found myself sliding back and forth as the car swung around the guarded drop-offs of these steep ravines, with what felt like four hours of abdominal exercises just keeping oneself together. Henry and I both felt the muscle aches the following day; yet, it didn’t prevent us from spending three more days in a car on mountain roads while exploring the beautiful landscape. Notable along the way were the rugged mountains and the snow gates guarding the road, closed during the winter’s deep snowfalls. Also positioned along the road at higher altitudes were markers to determine the depth of the snowfall. We were told that skiing was available in the higher altitudes, but the ski trails were only expert runs on steep slopes. We stopped at a restaurant near the summit, where a wide variety of hot chocolate drinks were served, along with a selection of coffees. Photos of the road in winter were posted on the walls here, making all of us happy to be venturing into the mountains during the spring.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. A view of the pass: the rugged rock and the ribbon of road alongside the deep ravines. 2. View of the valley beyond the railing. 3. The pink toned mountains in higher altitudes, with markers measuring the depth of snowfall, positioned along the highway. 4. Dramatic mountains near the summit of the High Atlas.  Center, Top: View of 3 levels of the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass as it snakes through the High Atlas Mountains at high altitude. Center, Bottom: A view of the road, from the road. Switchback roads and hairpin turns keep the drivers alert while driving these passes. Right Column: 1 & 2. View of the road while passing a truck in heavy traffic. 3. The 4WD ahead of us. 4.  A view on our descent.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                        BACK TO MAP  PAGE