Atlas 11x4000m: Full High Atlas Traverse in Trail Running

Traversing the 11 peaks over 4000 meters in the High Atlas in trail running

Atlas 11x4000m: Full High Atlas Traverse in Trail Running

Connecting the 11 peaks over 4,000 meters in the High Atlas in a single traverse: an unprecedented challenge at the heart of mountainous Morocco. No one had ever accomplished it before. The peaks had been summited individually, but never linked by running, in one go.

The final time:

340 km • 16,000 m D+ • 5 days 11 h 58 min

Behind this time lies an intense human adventure, a technical exploration, and a powerful reminder: the mountain always has the last word.

In this story, we'll cover

  • 🔺 3 key insights on preparation and adaptation in the mountains
  • 📚 2 sources of inspiration for this project
  • 🧪 The project broken down in numbers
  • 🎯 Lessons learned from this traverse
Landscapes of the High Atlas during the traverse of the 11 peaks over 4000 meters

🔺 3 Key Insights

1️⃣ Maps never tell the whole story

Months of preparation preceded this project: dozens of hours spent analyzing maps, building a precise itinerary, envisioning every pass. And yet, the mountain decided otherwise.

After the ninth summit, a massive snowfield completely blocked the planned passage. Impossible to cross. The itinerary had to be entirely changed: circumnavigating the massif via Lake Ifni, losing almost half a day.

👉 No matter the level of preparation: the mountain will always retain an element of unpredictability.

2️⃣ Knowing how to rest is part of training

Preparing for an ultra isn't just about accumulating mileage. This project demanded extreme versatility. It required being able to manage:

  • altitude
  • climbing
  • technical descents
  • long runnable sections
  • over 200 km of desert
  • temperatures exceeding 40°C
  • sleep deprivation
  • isolation

Then came the unforeseen. Ben, a pacer on this project, seriously injured his hand after a fall. Several peaks had to be traversed solo. Then came heatstroke: from that point on, the strategy was reversed to run primarily at night.

👉 In ultra-running, the best preparation is often what allows you to continue when the entire plan collapses.

3️⃣ The most beautiful projects are those that don't yet exist

This project was not recorded anywhere. No established itinerary, no GPS track, no prior feedback.

Today, a track exists. It will likely evolve over time, and that's a good thing. The hope is that it will inspire other adventurers to create their own unique projects.

👉 Forging a new path might be the greatest record of all.

Technical ridges of the High Atlas during the traverse of the 4000-meter peaks

📚 2 Inspirations

This project follows in the footsteps of great exploratory traverses, where the unknown takes precedence over pure performance. Two sources of inspiration guided this adventure:

  • Integral traverses of mountain ranges, where the goal is to link all the major peaks of a region in a single push
  • Projects that blaze new trails in virgin territory, combining geographical exploration and sporting challenge
Desert and contrasts of the High Atlas during the trail traverse of the 4000 meters

🧪 The Project in Numbers

This adventure encompassed almost everything the mountains can offer, packed into a single traverse.

Traverse Statistics

  • 11 peaks over 4,000 m, including 9 linked in the first stage in under 24 hours
  • 340 km covered
  • 16,000 m of positive elevation gain
  • 5 days, 11 hours, and 58 minutes of effort
  • Over 200 km in the desert, in temperatures exceeding 40°C
  • Sections of climbing and ridges without a clear path
  • Snow at over 4,000 meters… just hours after running in the desert
  • Dozens of isolated villages crossed deep in the High Atlas
  • Nights spent in the car, with locals, or simply by the trailside

Wildlife Encountered

Throughout the project, the mountain reminded us that we were merely guests. We encountered:

  • scorpions 🦂
  • snakes 🐍
  • wild dogs 🐕
  • goats 🐐
  • sheep, sometimes alone in the middle of nowhere 🐑

But numbers only tell part of the story.

Most striking remains this feeling of having traversed multiple worlds in a single adventure: the mountains of the High Atlas, the technical ridges, the Berber villages, the lost valleys… then the immensity of the endless desert.

Mountain-desert contrast during the full traverse of the 11 peaks over 4000m in the High Atlas

🎯 What We Learned

Here are the essential lessons from this unprecedented traverse of the High Atlas:

  • ✔️ Preparation reduces risks; the mountain always keeps its share of the unknown
  • ✔️ The greatest adventures are often those where nothing goes as planned
  • ✔️ In ultra-running, adaptation is sometimes more valuable than raw power
  • ✔️ The trails we blaze remain

This expedition resulted in a record and unforgettable memories. Beyond the numbers, it's the exploration of untouched territory that will endure: the first track connecting the 11 peaks over 4000 meters of the High Atlas, now open for those who wish to follow or reinvent it.

— Antoine, Baptiste, and Etienne from TRL