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Jbel bou Iblane beyond the village of Beni Smint

The school inspector met below the Tizi ou Mial

We had thought of adding 3128m Adrar n’ Siouane (Gaberal), another distinctive neighbour, but baled off and headed for the oasis of Tinesmet, where we were given marvellous hospitality in a house and the promise of a mule for the donkey work ahead. Westing led us over minor tizis to reach a piste which dropped from the final Tizi ou Mial to the village of Beni Smint. In the middle of nowhere we were caught up by a man in a city suit, carrying a brief case – a school inspector on tour. In his city shoes he happily ran down screes. We had a delectable bivvy (three-quarters moon) above the village. The headman came for coffee and to get our details. A good piste led on, and flanks Iblane, and we eventually made a high bivvy in weather doubtful enough that the two muleteers built parallel walls, wove grass ropes and supported the panniers across the gap to make a shelter. There were storms all round, but we were just gently rained on.