Jebel el Kest and Jebel Taskra North, Anti-Atlas  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  1,000' Lat, Long:  29.8198, -9.0747 Map Page Views:  1,400. Good page? (1 like)    Administrator:  Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Emma Alsford on Oct 22, 2012 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu 77° | 50° 75° | 50° 75° | 50° 75° | 52° 75° | 52°

David Barlow on Senility Crack 5.9, at Tramline Sl...

Description 

A fantastic 'winter sun' trad climbing destination. Mountainous but with a 'cragging' feel. Varied routes on predominantly solid quartzite. Approach times from 2 minutes to an hour. Single pitch to multi 8+pitches long. All aspects though many north faces (a relief at times for escape from the hot Moroccan sun!). Descents mainly by easy scrambling off the back of peaks, though many abseil descents on the shorter routes.
Developed mainly by Brits and originally on the south side of Jebel el Kest - see Claude Davies' guidebook Moroccan Anti-Atlas, from 1991 onwards, but activity since 2007 has taken place mainly on the north side and on Jebel Taskra north (at a rate of knots!) - Still plenty of scope for new routing, with many of the routes also not having seen repeats as yet. An area still in its infancy...
Must do routes: Tusker 5.6, Sisters of Mercy 5.8, Voyage of the Beagle 5.9, La Linea D'Ombra 5.9, Em's Cleft 5.9, To Teo 5.9, Black Beauty 5.10a, Firesword 5.10a, Shruikan 5.10b, Titan's Chimney 5.10b, Golden Compass 5.10b, Sungold 5.10c, Leaving Las Vegas 5.10c, Crackerjack 5.10d, Arctic Monkey 5.10d, Orgasmatron 5.11a, The Mighty Logan 5.11b, Hammer Finger 5.12a.
Best place to stay is the Kasbah Tizourgane near Ida Ougnidif - all areas are between 10-40 minutes from here. Email Malika at tizourganekasbah@yahoo.fr for booking. Only other places to stay at present are in Tafraoute, though this is up to a good hour from the 6 main areas. Only place which serves alcohol is les amandiers hotel in Tafraoute, though it is possible to stock up in duty free before departing (or in Agadir) and take this to the Kasbah, who are most accommodating about the use of alcohol (please respect this).
All information for routes available in the brand new definitive guidebook Morocco Rock, detailing around 1,000 climbs from 5.3 to 5.12b - see www.moroccorock.com (postage to the states £10).

Getting There 

Fly to Agadir and hire a car (essential) from the airport. Detailed maps in Morocco Rock guidebook.

The Classics

Featured Route For Jebel el Kest and Jebel Taskra North, Anti-Atlas

The Mighty Logan 5.11a  International : Africa : ... : Ida Ougnidif Area

Takes the obvious flake in the centre of the wall. Start 12 metres right of Ems Cleft, below a short black and orange leaning groove. A quality climb with sustained interest all the way.1 30m 5c Gain the groove and exit over a bulge. Trend left and up to a flake crack in white rock, leading to a good stance.2 30m 5b Go steeply up the flake, followed by a slabby groove leading to a small stance.3 15m 5a Follow the crack above the roof rightwards, to finish up the fine, exposed first groo...[more]   Browse More Classics in International