Overview
Take the Next Step Into Expedition Mountaineering
If you’ve climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp or already have experience at high-altitude, Morocco Winter Skills is designed to help you take the next step toward bigger, more technical expeditions.
Over five days in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, you’ll learn and practise the winter and expedition skills used on mountains such as Denali, Peak Lenin and Manaslu. You’ll cover crampon and ice axe skills, fixed lines, simulated glacier travel and crevasse rescue, expedition load carrying, winter camp systems and managing yourself effectively in cold conditions and at altitude.
The course culminates in a winter ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167m), giving you the opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice on a significant mountain day.
No previous technical mountaineering experience is required.
Course Highlights
Five Practical Mountain Days
Spend five days learning, practising and applying winter mountaineering and expedition skills in the High Atlas.
Build Real Mountain Skills
Get hands-on experience with the equipment, movement techniques and systems you’re likely to encounter on bigger guided expeditions and that will make you a more capable and confident member of a guided expedition team.
Winter Ascent of Mount Toubkal
Put your new skills into practice on a planned winter ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167m), the highest mountain in North Africa.
Prepare for Bigger Mountains
Build the skills, confidence and familiarity with expedition systems that will help prepare you for mountains such as Denali, Peak Lenin and Manaslu.
What You’ll Learn
Winter Movement
Learn to move safely and confidently on snow using crampons and an ice axe, including movement on steeper terrain, safe transitions and ice axe braking/self-arrest.
Ropes & Fixed Lines
Learn the essential rope, harness and ascender skills needed to move safely and efficiently on fixed lines as part of a guided expedition team.
Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue
Learn the principles of roped glacier travel and practise simulated crevasse-rescue techniques, including arresting a fall, anchors, hauling systems and self-rescue, giving you a better understanding of the systems used on glaciated expeditions.
Expedition Skills
Build practical skills for bigger expeditions, including load carrying, winter camp systems, cold management and familiarisation with sled hauling.
Performance at Altitude
Learn how pacing, hydration, fuelling, acclimatisation, layering and recovery affect your performance on long mountain days and at altitude.
Mountain Judgement & Teamwork
Develop greater confidence moving through winter mountain terrain while learning about weather, snow conditions, route choice, avalanche awareness and decision-making, while building the communication and self-management skills expected of a strong member of a guided expedition team.
Who Is Morocco Winter Skills For?
Morocco Winter Skills is designed for people who have already completed a high-altitude trek or similar big mountain experience and now want to progress into more technical expedition mountaineering.
You may have climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked to Everest Base Camp or completed another significant mountain challenge. The course is particularly relevant if you’re preparing for Denali, Peak Lenin or Manaslu, although the skills are also valuable for Island Peak, Mera Peak and Kang Yatse II.
You don’t need any previous winter or technical mountaineering experience. We’ll teach you the skills and systems you’ll need to begin making that progression, including using crampons and an ice axe, moving on fixed lines, rope systems, simulated glacier travel and crevasse rescue.
You should, however, arrive with:
- A good level of fitness
- Experience of long days in the mountains
- The ability to manage consecutive mountain days
- A willingness to learn and work closely as part of a team
We recommend completing the course within 12 months of your next big expedition so the skills remain fresh.
This is not an independent mountaineering qualification. The focus is on helping you become a more capable, confident and self-sufficient member of a professionally guided expedition team.
Morocco Winter Skills Cost & What’s Included
The total expedition price is shown above.
Just pay a €199 deposit to secure your place, with the remaining balance due three months before departure.
You can choose to pay the balance in instalments or in full.
Before You Go
- An Earth’s Edge team jacket, buff and cap for you to keep
- Ongoing pre-departure support from the Earth’s Edge team
- Advice on training, equipment and preparing for altitude
In Morocco
- Experienced Earth’s Edge winter mountaineering course facilitator.
- Highly experienced local mountain guides.
- Full mountain support team including cooks and mules.
- Five mountain days of practical winter mountaineering and expedition skills training
- Accommodation throughout the trip, based on twin sharing in hotels and dormitory accommodation in the Toubkal Refuge.
- All meals and drinking water (except in Marrakech where accommodation is based on B&B)
- Celebratory dinner at the end of the course
- Planned group transport throughout the trip
- Airport transfers that match our recommended flights
- All required local mountain and national park fees
- Group technical and training equipment used during the course
Flights
Flights are not included in the trip price.
Travelling from Ireland? We’ll send you our recommended flight timings to Marrakech Airport (RAK) approximately 10 months before departure. These timings are designed to connect with our complimentary group airport transfers.
You are, of course, welcome to choose alternative flights and make your own way to your accommodation in time for the briefing on Day 1.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Marrakech
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Arrive in Marrakech. Meet your team and course facilitator for a trip briefing and an overview of the week ahead.
Day 2
Transfer Marrakech to Imlil, 1.5hrs, and trek to Toubkal Refuge, 6hrs
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We have an early morning transfer to Imlil (1,740m). From here, we begin our trek into the mountains, passing through Sidi Chamharouch (2,300m) before reaching the Toubkal Refuge at approximately 3,200m.
The refuge will be our base for the next four nights and gives us access to the surrounding winter mountain terrain.
Overnight Toubkal Refuge.
Day 3
Winter Skills Training
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Our first full day of practical winter mountaineering training in the High Atlas. We'll use the terrain and conditions around the refuge to begin developing and practising the fundamental skills needed to move safely and efficiently in winter mountain conditions.
Overnight Toubkal Refuge.
Day 4
Winter Skills Training
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A second full day developing our winter mountaineering and expedition skills. We'll continue to build on what we've learned and put those skills into practice on suitable mountain terrain.
Overnight Toubkal Refuge.
Day 5
Winter Skills Training
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Our final dedicated training day gives us another opportunity to practise and consolidate the techniques we've learned throughout the week and prepare for our planned ascent of Mount Toubkal.
Overnight Toubkal Refuge.
Day 6
Mount Toubkal Summit Day! 10-12 hrs trekking
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We rise before dawn and put the skills we've developed throughout the week into practice on a long winter mountain day. After reaching the summit, conditions permitting, we descend to the refuge before continuing down to Imlil. From Imlil, we transfer back to Marrakech for a well-earned celebratory dinner.
Day 7
Depart Marrakech
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Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and, flight times permitting, some free time in Marrakech before beginning your journey home.
Start Planning Your Journey
Facts
Why Learn Winter Mountaineering Skills in Morocco?
The High Atlas Mountains give us access to genuine winter mountain terrain within a relatively short journey from Ireland, making it an excellent training ground for the bigger expeditions ahead.
During winter, the higher mountains can experience snow, ice, freezing temperatures and rapidly changing weather, creating an excellent environment in which to learn, practise and apply new winter skills.
Based at the Toubkal Refuge, we have access to a range of terrain that allows our instructors to adapt the programme according to the conditions.
Rather than learning skills in isolation, you'll have the opportunity to apply them on real mountain days, progressively building confidence as the week develops.
The planned ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167m) then brings those skills together during one significant winter mountain objective.
The exact programme remains flexible so our team can make the best use of the weather, snow and mountain conditions throughout the week.
Why Choose Earth’s Edge for Morocco Winter Skills?
Designed for Bigger Expeditions
We don't teach winter skills in isolation. This course has been designed specifically around the practical skills you'll need as a member of a guided expedition team on bigger mountains.
If Denali, Peak Lenin or Manaslu is your next goal, you'll leave Morocco with a much clearer understanding of the systems, equipment and skills you'll encounter on the mountain.
Practical, Hands-On Training
The emphasis throughout the five days on the mountain is on doing rather than sitting in a classroom.
You’ll learn a skill, practise it and then continue to apply it throughout the course. The programme is kept deliberately flexible. Your instructors will adapt the order of sessions to the weather, snow conditions and needs of the group, allowing us to make the best use of each day.
Experienced Instruction
The course is led by a highly experienced Earth’s Edge winter mountaineering course facilitator, supported by experienced local Moroccan mountain guides.
Where appropriate, the group can be split into smaller groups when teaching technical skills, providing plenty of practical instruction.
Put Your Skills Into Practice
Mount Toubkal (4,167m) isn't simply an additional summit at the end of the course.
The ascent provides a full winter mountain day at altitude, on which you can apply the skills you’ve spent the week developing, from crampon and ice axe use to pacing, layering, fuelling and teamwork.
Small-Group Experience
We cap the course at 12 clients, creating a supportive environment in which to learn new skills and spend meaningful time with the course team.
You don’t need to know anyone before joining. Many Earth’s Edge clients travel on their own, and learning and climbing together creates a strong team environment throughout the week.
Responsible Travel
Earth's Edge is a Certified B Corp and currently the highest-scoring B Corp in Ireland. We're committed to responsible travel, fair treatment of the local teams we work with and reducing the impact of our trips on the places we visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morocco Winter Skills Right for Me?
This course is designed for people with existing mountain experience who want to progress towards more technical expeditions.
You don’t need previous experience using crampons, an ice axe, fixed lines or climbing equipment, but you should have a good level of fitness and be comfortable with long mountain days.
If you're unsure whether the course is the right next step for you, book a free consultation and we'll talk it through with you.
What Equipment Do I Need?
You'll need suitable clothing and equipment for winter mountain conditions, including appropriate mountain footwear and warm layers.
We’ll provide you with a detailed Morocco Winter Skills Equipment List before departure, covering everything you need to bring and any technical equipment provided by Earth's Edge for the course.
What Are Winter Conditions Like in Morocco?
The High Atlas is a genuine winter mountain environment. You can expect snow, ice, freezing temperatures, strong winds and rapidly changing mountain weather, particularly at higher elevations.
Conditions vary from year to year, which is one reason the course programme remains flexible. Our team will choose the most appropriate terrain and activities for the conditions we encounter.
Is the Mount Toubkal summit guaranteed?
No. The planned ascent of Mount Toubkal (4,167m) is subject to weather, mountain conditions and the judgement of the course team.
If conditions are not suitable, the programme will be adapted to make the best use of the available terrain.
Want to be the first to hear about new dates added, or to join the waitlist for an existing date? Contact us on support@earths-edge.com!
