3rd annual Morocco Mountain Medicine Expedition - for doctors and other medical professionals

27 September - 3 October 2008

The 2007 expedition was a sell out - don't miss the '08 expedition which is subject to maximum numbers!

Mountain Medicine - Climb Toubkal - Lead a Team

This expedition uniquely combines the essentials of expedition and mountain medicine with mountain skills training and culminates with an ascent of Jbel Toubkal (4167m), the highest mountain in North Africa.  

No previous expedition or climbing experience required but you need to be moderately fit.

Dates: 27 Sept - 3 Oct 2008

How much? £750

Who for? this is essential training for doctors, nurses and medical students interested in expedition medicine and becoming an expedition medic

Venue: Kasbah du Toubkal, Imlil, Morocco (1.5 hours from Marrakech)

Event Overview

Imlil, just 60km from Marrakech, is at the foot of Jbel Toubkal. The Kasbah is a fabulous auberge (hostel) and hotel. Visit this link for more photos and some fantastic 360 degree images. The food is fantastic and the Berber hospitality is warm and genuine. This is a comfortable base where we'll prepare for the ascent of Toubkal which takes two days to ascend. It's a beautiful but fairly tough trek but doesn't involve ropes. There may be a dusting of snow high on the mountain in November. The last night of the week is spent in Marrakech where a visit to the souk (market) is a must.

Logistics

• held over 6 nights and 7 days
• shared/dorm style accommodation divided between the Kasbah (3 nights) and the CAF (Club Alpine Francais) mountain refuge (2 nights) with a final hotelnight in Marrakech. No camping.
• the final night will be spent in Marrakech to sightsee and shop!
• arrive by 5pm on the 10th to catch the transfer bus to the Kasbah
• see below for airline links for cheap UK - Morocco flights

The content will be covered in a flexible way at the Kasbah and on the mountain climb and will include:

• Lectures
• Tutorials & discussion groups
• Team challenges
• Practical tuition
• Individual coaching/feedback

Expedition Content

Planning and Pre-expedition considerations

• Travellers with special needs                                                
• Don’t get sued – legal liability & insurance
• Immunisations & anti-malarials
• Choosing a medical kit
• Water purification

Mountain Medicine

• Altitude illness                                                            
• Avalanche dangers                                                              
• Hypothermia & cold injury

 Managing Injuries in the Field

• Incident management – more than just medicine
• Trauma on expeditions                                             
• Moving & straightening the injured
• Practical fracture management, improvised stretchers & collars

Mountain Skills

• Travelling light: kit selection, packing & waterproofing
• Use of radios in an emergency
• Navigation essentials: reading the terrain, use of map & compass
• Ropes/anchors & security on steep ground techniques
• Using GPS
• Avalanche transceiver use
• Safe river crossings

Other important topics

• Human dynamics on expedition               
• Joining an expedition – being the right stuff and what next?                        

Special Presentation The North Face - Roof of the Arctic Greenland Expedition. An account of the 2006 successful first winter ascent and paraglider descent of the highest peak in the Arctic, presented by Barry Roberts.

Everyone will get the opportunity to lead a team under real expedition conditions on the mountain.

Faculty: WMT's Directors Barry Roberts and Dr Jon Dallimore will lead this expedition. Other medical instructors and mountain leaders are to be confirmed.

Dr Jon Dallimore
MSc MBBS (London) MCEM MRCGP DCH DRCOG Dip. Mountain Med.
WMT Medical Director

Jon has spent more than two years in the field on 25 expeditions as doctor and/or leader. These expeditions have varied from the jungles of Sulawesi, Belize, Thailand and Ecuador to the deserts of Sinai, Namibia and Kenya and to the high mountains of East Africa, the Arctic and the Himalayas. Jon completed the UIAA Diploma in Mountain Medicine in September 2004 and is now a UK executive faculty member. Jon has an MSc in travel medicine, is a member of the RGS medical cell and a contributing author and co-editor for the new Oxford Handbook of Wilderness and Expedition Medicine (in press). In addition to his WMT commitments, Jon has developed a portfolio medical career, working as a staff grade doctor in the Emergency Department at Bristol Royal Infirmary, as a part-time GP and as an advisor to five expedition companies. Jon is also a lecturer at Bristol University and advises medical students on their overseas electives and is an ALS and ATLS instructor. Jon is an aspirant International Mountain Leader and a member of the Alpine Club.

Barry Roberts
BSc BEd FRGS
WMT Commercial Director

22 expeditions - science, corporate, community, diving, skiing & climbing, mainly in Kenya, Pakistan, Greenland, Nepal & Tibet
Formerly a Director of Raleigh International
Diver, parapente pilot, climber, skydiver & ski instructor
Also runs www.corporateinterventions.com & www.AllTerrainSki.com in Chamonix
Interests in writing & film making
Contributing author of forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine
Co-author of www.stayingaliveoffpiste.com
Summited Everest May ’04 and sponsored by The North Face UK
Climbed 20 virgin summits on ’05 ski mountaineering expedition to Greenland
Made first (and second) winter ascent of Gunnbjorns Fjeld, highest peak in Arctic March 2006 followed by solo paraglide descent (and polar bear attack!)
Visit www.bazroberts.com

Important details:

Dates: 27 September - 3 October 2008

Fee: £750 to include:

• Lecture programme, materials, field manual & tuition
• Jbel Toubkal mountain climb
• Morocco airport group transfers to/from the venue (27 Sept only)
• Transfer to Marrakech after the climb
• Marrakech - airport transfer (Friday 3rd Oct only)
• Full board accommodation (shared and mountain refuge)
• Marrakech hotel
• Anything not expressly mentioned is excluded

The fee excludes personal insurance (mandatory), flights, personal equipment (full advice provided), gratuities and items of a personal nature like extra snacks/drinks and bottled water on the mountain. VAT does not apply. Sorry, no nurse or student discounts.

Travel advice: check out these links for flights to Marrakech

Atlas Blue

Easyjet

Thomson Fly

British Airways

Royal Air Maroc

Ryanair

Note: British passport holders do not need a visa, just a passport with at least 6 months validity remaining. Other nationalities should check on Moroccan visa requirements.

Why not stay on for the weekend and visit the beach, a few hours away?