They will climb the highest peak in Morocco: an extraordinary adventure between high school students and people with disabilities

From May 12 to 19, five people with disabilities, six high school students and their companions will climb the highest peak of the Atlas in Morocco, Mount Toubkal. A challenge full of richness for each participant.

A united and inclusive project. Climbing a mountain: Mount Toubkal, the highest peak of the Atlas in Morocco. A dive into the heart of the Moroccan mountains and the Berber valleys. This is the universe into which first year high school students and certain members of the Arche foundation in Reims (Marne) will be immersed.

This foundation welcomes 40 people with mental disabilities, supported on a daily basis to develop their autonomy and build their life project. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Saint-Jean XIII high school in Reims, a private Catholic educational establishment. Six first year high school students were selected after several tests to live this experience in the company of five people with disabilities and their companions.

A trip far from being trivial and for which preparation must be meticulous. “For the people we support, the objective is to provide as much predictability as possible. We know that people with intellectual disabilities will need benchmarks. In this context, we know perfectly well that we will lose our bearings, our entire daily life”explains Romain Puech, project coordinator and head of the Arche day reception service in Reims.

In order for this trip to go as smoothly as possible, all participants have had appropriate physical preparation for several months. “We have regular walks. When there are none, we have access to a Cercle gym, a partner of the project, where we have one or more trainers who accompany the whole group to work on muscle strengthening, cardio, etc.”he continues.

Still with this in mind to plan as much as possible, the group left a few weeks ago for a bivouac weekend to go to Orval Abbey (Belgium), sleeping one night in a tent, eating from bowls and using headlamps, to give each participant some guidance.

The seven-day stay in Morocco promises to be busy. “Mont Toubkal peaks at 4,167 meters above sea level. The idea is to make a gradual ascent and we will have a 1,200m difference in altitude per day. We will have two days of ascent initially with shelters for accommodation. Then a second stop at a little over 3 Â 000 meters of altitude where we will have an acclimatization day. We will do small climbs and descents to get the body used to this altitude and to practice walking slowly to avoid shortness of breath.details Romain Puech.

Before a final stage promising to be rich in energy. “On the last day of the ascent, we get up at three in the morning to go up with a headlamp to the top of Mount Toubkal for sunrise. Then we go back down because we should run out of air at the top.”continues Romain Puech, who will also participate in the ascent.

For comparison, by searching on the internet, this climb is offered in two days by sites like Décathlon. This project costs 65,000 euros in total and is entirely financed by patronage donations. “The idea is to find a lot of patrons to finance the travel, the accommodation on site and all the technical staff.” The group will be accompanied by guide Arnaud Chassery, used to organizing this type of adventure with people with disabilities. All the information for donations can be found here.

Beyond the physical challenge, Romain Puech insists on the human adventure to come. “Mount Atlas is a pretext. The idea is to find and create encounters between high school students and people with disabilities. The entire path traveled and to be traveled is a path of encounters […]Â We have entered a phase where high school students realize that there are difficulties with disability, that we must adapt, support and understand. Conversely, high schools will also realize that they will be displaced from their comfort and their little habits. People with disabilities will sometimes have more experience of this discomfort. I think the two groups will benefit each other.”concludes Romain Puech.