by Esh Capelo, Birmingham Mail
MY TRIP to Morocco to climb the highest peak in North Africa was very successful and I was one of 25 members of West Bromwich Mountaineering Club who reached the summit.
We left Manchester Airport on the Wednesday, climbed to the hut at the base of the mountain on Thursday, came back down to Imlil on Saturday and were back in UK at midnight on Monday.
Only two members of the mountaineering club didn’t get there due to altitude and sickness problems. Ten of us climbed the north ridge route unguided and 15 went up the shorter, warmer southern route in the company of a couple of guides.
The harder day was the first when we had to walk up a mule track to the huts for seven hours in full sun carrying 40-pound packs.
After the mountaineering part of the trip we joined three of the wives in Marrakech and enjoyed a day and a half there.
I was the only one doing the climb to raise money for charity.
I’ve just updated the Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/John-Edwards8 with some details and photos and, thanks to Birmingham Humanists, Wednesday Walking Club, West Brom Mountaineering Club, Shirley Centre Solo/Whist Club, Cadbury College staff, geocachers and other friends and relations for being so amazingly generous.
To date my climb has raised over £2,000, almost triple the target I set myself.
JOHN EDWARDS
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