Tichka pass and high Atlas

We took the N9 which was the main route over the very top of the high Atlas Mountains: the Tichka pass. We could not believe how the weather and scenery changed as we climbed and climbed the switchback roads. There seemed to be endless roadworks as they were widening the road, which on a mountainside is not that easy to do. At the bottom it was hot and sunny, by the time we got to the top it was grey and cold. We ate a tagine in a roadside cafe and slept in a truck stop at the very top of the pass where we paid a man ten dirhams to look after our bus, and made his day by giving him a pair of trainers. When we woke it was snowing and we were slightly concerned about the road conditions as we still had the peak to climb, but the man told us no problem. As trucks thundered by we presumed it was ok and set off, only to find an oil tanker dangerously sliding towards the crash barrier and queues of traffic stuck behind, as the snow settled on the icy road. Eventually snow patrol came and dug a clear path and we managed to pass and begin to descend the other side with relief! Really pleased with our trusty 609 at this point, and glad we weren’t in a Winabago.Read more