We arrived after dark in the village of Armd, but in time for a big meal and our first ‘mint tea’ of the expedition. I didn’t sleep that well, but was at least glad to be horizontal when we eventually turned in just before midnight. I’ve worked with. Mohammed several times over a period spanning over twenty years now. It was nice to see a familiar face in this now familiar valley.

After the classic breakfast of cheese, break and jam, we got kit sorted and rucsacks on. Thankfully, sleeping bags were loaded into mules to save our shoulders. We are only a small team, yet now have a cook, local guide and mule men!

The hike was hot and sweaty! It was raining here last week, but now the heat is here. The shade of the forest helped to begin with, but there was no shade at the high Col we crossed at Tizi n Tamatert at 2300m.

Walnut trees, cherries and barley all were getting harvested over the next month. Every inch of land has a terrace on it for growing on.

Lunch was fabulous and in the nick of time. The sun and uphill exertion had taken its toll on some of the group and the food and shade did wonders for morale and energy levels. It looked like we might make it! Tamguist is the small village we are now staying in. On the way we passed one that had been destroyed in the 2022 earthquake. It was a new valley for me and nice to be getting different views. Our guesthouse has a super terrace where we ate a good sized dinner, before everyone asked to go to be – exhausted and elated at the days sights, sounds and smells… Hopefully some of these photos give a flavour….