Morocco day 2
We had planned to spend today on winter skills lessons for the less experienced led by Alan and a couple of hours for the four more experienced of us to revisit our skills and then walk further up the valley. This would also allow us another day of acclimatization.
Unfortunately over dinner on day 1, Hussein, our guide had told us of impending bad weather and suggested we should go for the top today. It was decided that because of this Kirk P, Craig F and I would take one of the less experienced group members each and work with them on the hill, teaching them the basic skills of movement and ice axe use as we ascended.
Alan felt unwell due to a change in his Diabetes medication and turned back after an hour, still in site of the refuge.
We continued with our ascent but after another hour Kirk and I noticed Tom had started to struggle, going very quiet and following directly behind Craig without looking up or engaging when Craig spoke to him. We stopped and after a brief chat with him we moved the group on and Kirk explained to him our concerns and he agreed to go down. Kirk put him on a short rope and descended. Tom is a keen and fit hill walker in the uk but was very casual with his admin on the hill and allowed others to do for him while he stood there. I believe he got to cold and possibly hadn`t acclimatized well enough. Craig also started to suffer, he was still trying to shake off the last of a chest infection he'd had for a week.
We made good time to the top and after enjoying nuts and dates with Hussein we descended to our refuge as the the temps dropped and more snow came in.
Overall a successful day and Alan had even been thoughtful enough to present me with a packet of Chocolate Hobnobs for my efforts. The finest biscuit known to man.
