Читать книгу Mountaineering in the Moroccan High Atlas. Walks, climbs & scrambles over 3000M онлайн

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Lizards and even chameleons are common, as are tortoises at lower altitudes. These are all harmless. Snakes, scorpion and a particular type of venomous spider locally called ikhikhi are present, more so from late spring to early autumn. The good news is that snakes generally move off at the sound of approaching feet and are not usually found in cold snowy environments! The same is true for scorpions, however they can often be lurking under a rock near a stream, particularly in the spring and summer months. The ikhikhi spider is particularly venomous, but again is not that common. To minimize the chance of any encounters when camping, zip up tent doorways and be very wary of moving big stones.

A baby lizard

When to Go

While the vast majority of routes in the guide can be undertaken in the late spring and autumn, the emphasis is on winter ascents (from early November to mid-April). If you are flexible in terms of timing for your visit, then you can keep an eye on conditions by checking online or telephoning some of the mountain refuges for specific information.