Day two saw us leave Marrakesh to a high Berber village (Armoud) at 2000m where we met our guide and muleteer and from where we were to start the route to the refuge below Toubkal. 

The dry arid land between Marrakesh and the mountains started to give way to a greener landscape before the first view of our destination, Jbel Toubkal. 

The walk to the refuge starts amongst cherry, apple and walnut trees before quickly gaining height onto more rugged ground. 

Climate change, as in most places, is playing havoc with the weather in the Atlas and as in recent years the seasons have slightly slipped. In March the weather should be warming up but winter hasn’t released its grip on these mountains yet with fresh snow in the preceding days and forecast for later in the week.

As we climbed higher we passed numerous little cafes selling food, drink and the odd souvenir. Stopping for lunch and the first of many Tagine’s we quickly hit the snow line and a short while later the refuge at 3200m, and more food and lots of people set on Toubkal the next day.