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UPDATE - Our flight to Marrakesh was badly delayed so all of our kit prep lasted until 0200Hrs. We will therefore not be departing before sunrise, instead opting to attempt to rest before starting at 0700Hrs on Sunday 8th June.
You can follow our progress by clicking on this link to our live satellite beacon on or shortly after we start (location will update every 15mins).
Our route on Day 1 will take us by bike from Marrakesh to Imlil (65km) and then into Toubkal national park, where we face a gruelling 4 hour hike a bike trek up to the Toubkal mountain refuge where we will stay the night.
You can see more about our intended route thereafter by clicking here:
https://www.komoot.com/collection/3350923/-morocco-on-a-mission-a-72-hour-charity-bikepacking-adventure
Liam Riley and Steve Ferris are life-long friends whose families have needed the life saving care and facilities provided by Bristol Children's Hospital.
Morocco on a Mission is their way of saying thank you and ensuring that Bristol Children's Hospital continues its incredible work with the best possible facilities for babies and children in the region.
MOROCCO ON A MISSION:
This self organised, self funded 72 hour challenge promises to be a brutal test of physical endurance and willpower as Steve and Liam ride, carry and push their bikes and equipment from Marrakesh (elevation 457m) to the peak of MOUNT TOUBKAL, the highest mountain in North Africa and the Arab World at 4167m), covering some 90 kilmeters of desert and high mountain roads and paths... and that's just the first 24 hours!
Thereafter they'll be continuing their journey through the High Atlas Mountains, clocking up several more hundreds of kilometres and an anticipated 6000+ metres in vertical ascent over the course of the entire trip, before finishing back in Marrakesh on the evening of Tuesday 10th June.
No mules, no cars and no assistance with carrying any of their equipment. Just 2 friends clocking up some serious distance and elevation in some of the most unforgiving terrain for one amazing cause.
Mount Toubkal is a trekking peak which very few people have attempted to climb with bikes. The terrain is incredibly steep and for much of the summit attempt they will need to carry their bikes on their backs to get them to the top. At the altitudes Liam and Steve will be tackling there will be 30% less oxygen, meaning that their already Herculean effort will be that much tougher. As if that wasn't enough, daytime temperatures can be as high as 40C and night time as low as -10C at altitude.
The boys will spend their first night at Toubkal refuge mountain hut and night 2 will be spent bivouacking under the stars of the High Atlas Mountains.
THE PLAN
Assuming all goes well, the plan is as follows:
Day 1.
Cycle 65km from Marrakesh to a village called Imlil, from there we will enter Toubkal national park and push / hike the 10km (+1200m) to get to Toubkal Refuge (hut). Total Distance: 75km / Elevation gain + 2600m.
Day 2:
Summit Mt Toubkal for sunrise before descending on foot, riding where possible toward Lac d’Infi to the south east, then linking up with the R112 (mixed surface road) and heading as far along that stretch as possible before bivvying down for the night somewhere in the remote High Atlas. Total Distance: tbc 70 ~ 90km / Elevation gain +2000 ~ 2200m.
Day 3:
We will continue to ride east to climb Tizi n’ Tichka, the highest road mountain pass in the High Atlas (at 2260m it’s higher than the Tour De France’s famous Col du Tourmalet) before descending some 110km back to Marrakesh for a well earned beer or two.
Total Distance: tbc 130 ~ 140km / Elevation gain +1000 ~ 1200m
In total the ride should be approximately 290km and include 6500m of climbing.
Of course, anything can and probably will happen - we’ll need to contend with whatever the weather Gods throw at us - but it promises to be an adventure for an amazing cause nonetheless! And we cannot wait to get going!🤩🚵♂️🇲🇦
THE CAUSE
WALLACE AND GROMIT'S GRAND APPEAL
Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal is the official charity of Bristol Children's Hospital, dedicated to helping sick children and supporting their families across the South West and South Wales. Since 1995, the charity has raised over £50 million to fund life-saving medical equipment, family accommodation, and innovative therapies.
Their support includes providing three family accommodation houses, investing in pioneering medical research, and funding state-of-the-art equipment. They also offer music, play, and art therapy programs to help young patients cope with treatment and work to create a comforting hospital environment through art enhancements.
Your support will help ensure that every sick child and baby in the region has access to the very best care, 365 days a year.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.