For this month’s Mellow Expeditions, we caught up with @kian_patel17 following a group trip to Morocco’s Atlas Mountains in an attempt to summit Mount Toubkal. Although rough weather put a stop to the final push, the trip delivered incredible landscapes, good company and a reminder that sometimes the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.
Mt Toubkal back in March with the team was class, first actual group hiking trip away with a good group and that alone made it one to remember. There’s something different about getting away with a bunch of mates who are all up for the same challenge, and the whole trip had a great atmosphere from start to finish.
We didn’t even make it to the summit due to rough weather conditions but all in all the landscapes were beautiful and the trip was still well worth it. The mountains looked unreal and it was just nice to be back out in that environment again, away from the usual routine and spending a few days in the outdoors. Sometimes it’s not always about making it to the top, but more about the experience along the way.
Lots to do in Marrakesh too so we hopped on the quads, went to a fire show and drank what felt like unlimited tea for about £5. The contrast between being up in the mountains and then exploring the city afterwards made the whole trip even better, and there was always something going on wherever we ended up.
The temptation to stay another day and get a clear summit was definitely on the cards, especially knowing how close we’d got. However, we finished things off with a nice meal with the boys before heading home. Even without reaching the top, it was a quality few days away and one that’s definitely up there as one of my favourite trips so far.
