ALG-6, Top Pass Arch, Akba Tafilalet Area. 2 meter span and 2 meter
height (estimated). From main street in Djanet, turn right on paved road
just before the bridge and drive 400 meters to the fire station. Take
the 4WD road east and drive about 16 km to the turnaround (shelter) at
the bottom of the huge cliff of Tassili-n-Ajjer. From there climb up the
ravine on the cairned donkey trail to the flat bowl with some acacia trees
(about 45 minutes). Cross the bowl straight ahead 300 meters and turn
right into the canyon. Walk 500 meters through the canyon and take the
ascending pass on the left to a pass. Then go down the trail to a rocky
wash (oued) into the upper Akba Tafilalet Canyon. Once on the canyon floor
you can see a slot canyon on the right and a high spire perched on the
left. Proceed in the canyon upstream for approximately 2 km and turn right
at a cairn. Climb up the strenuous ravine (hard part of the trail) to
the top of the pass (there is a pour off on the right). Find this arch
on the left of the pass on the rocks above it. So far I have described
the donkey trail, but several short cuts exist. All are shown on Map
1. For example, at the cairn described above where you turn right,
an alternate route is to continue on the trail straight ahead and ascend
a hard chimney into a side canyon before arriving at the plateau top (for
strong hikers only). This way saves 30 minutes of hiking. |
 |
 |
Next Arch ALG-70
|
 |