It took us three full days. We started at a small nearby village and hiked up to the "Refuge", a hotel-like place at the base of the peak about 10,000 feet up (day one). Then we hiked/climbed to the peak and back to the Refuge (day two). Finally, we limped and walked slowly back down to our starting point (day three). It was absolutely exhausting, but now we can say we've climbed a serious mountain. One climber we talked with said that climbing Toubkal was harder for him than the two marathons he had run. I don't know if this is true because neither of us have run marathons, but it was definitely one of the most difficult experiences of each of our lives.
We just got back on Wednesday night from this 'vacation', and we have several great stories and beautiful pictures. Here's just a few:
Although we had never heard of a thing called 'altitude sickness', we got a first-hand experience and can testify to its existence. Ashley got sick at 10,000 feet (we'll spare you the details), and I got sick on my way back down from the peak. This sickness manifests itself in a variety of ways, and it affects each person differently. As soon as you descend to a semi-normal altitude, however, you feel much better.
This was such a unique and fun experience. We had a great time with the folks we went with, and we had several great conversations. But most of all, we were privy to a remote and beautiful part of creation.
