Somerset schoolboys climb highest mountain in North Africa

An eight-year old schoolboy from Somerset is one of the youngest people to have climbed a major mountain in Africa. Max Storey from Somerton climbed to the top of the gruelling Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains with his family.

It took him two-and-a-half days in high altitudes and sleeping in a tent in the mountains in temperatures of zero degrees. Undertaking difficult challenges seems to run in the family.

Max’s brother Freddie, 10, has just finished running the Cornish Coast which was over 300 miles with an ascent of 1.5 Mount Everests. Max was part of Freddies back up team throughout and decided he wanted his own challenge.

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Max and Freddie are big animal lovers and as they were both brought up in Cornwall decided to do their respective challenges for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

For Max's challenge his family did some research and came up with the idea of climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco in the Atlas Mountains.

The boys’ father James Storey said: “Morocco isn’t very far away, it is serviced by budget airlines, it has only one hour time difference but seems like a million miles away in terms of culture and challenge. Mount Toubkal is the highest mountain in north Africa at just under 4,200 meters.

The climb started in 25 degrees and ended in minus numbers and took the family eight hours on day one, nine hours on day two and three hours on day three. They had to stay two nights up the mountain in freezing temperatures.

James said: “We went to bed both nights in ski socks, ski trousers, a t-shirt, two rugby shirts, a ski jacket and a woolly hat. We were woken at 4am to begin the ascent. As we started hiking our guide made it very clear that we were to stay as hydrated as possible and do the climb as slowly as possible to limit the possibility of altitude sickness.

“At times we tried to press on but he stopped us and reminded us to slow down. After two hours of climbing we realised why.

“Many people had been hiking past us at speed and many of these people (10 in total that we counted) were on their way down having not managed to get to the top due to them developing this altitude sickness.

“We were still walking in the pitch black at this point but slowly the sun started to rise, head torches could come off and we could take in the scenery.

“We were soon walking on ice and snow covered mountains and scrambling up on hands and knees at times. “Towards the top Max began to get very very tired as the oxygen became thinner and his energy levels were depleting.

“At the top he fell fast asleep and as he woke complained of altitude sickness symptoms so it was important to get him down as soon as possible.

“On return to our tents we had some food and rest and despite it being only late afternoon we all went to sleep for the night. The next morning was a quick breakfast and a pack up and then a return to normality, and for the boys a well earned four nights in a hotel with some waterslides which made it all worthwhile.

“It was a brilliant few days which taught Max a lot about himself and has boosted his self confidence immeasurably. Knowing that if he can manage a challenge like this at such a young age then he can manage anything that gets thrown at him.

“Max pushed himself to his absolute limits. I am pleased to say he has not been put off, he thoroughly enjoyed it and has a thirst for more.”