Grandfather from Abbots Langley completes Atlas mountains challenge (From Watford Observer)

Grandfather from Abbots Langley completes Atlas mountains challenge

12:01pm Wednesday 28th July 2010

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An adventurous grandfather with a head for heights has conquered three of the highest peaks in northern Africa.

Rasseed Goolamhossen, 63, has a collection of bumps and bruises to show for the 11 day trek in the Atlas mountain range that took him to the summits of Mount Andrar n'Dern, Mount Toubkal and Mount Ouanakrim, each more than 4,000m high.

He said: “I've done Mount Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu, Kilamanjaro. This was the most exciting. We were in the wild, this was not a tourist trail. It was pristine mountains. It was superb.”

Rasseed, a retired nurse who works part-time for the National Society for Epilepsy, set off from his home in Follett Drive, Abbots Langley, on July 4.

He flew to Marrakech, in Morocco, where he joined the rest of his team before they set off on their mountainous hike.

Enjoying breathtaking views and completing steep climbs, Rasseed said he feared his age might be a hindrance to the challenge as he walked on average for seven hours a day.

But the only injuries he suffered came on the final day when, after coming down from the summit of Mount Toubkal, his walking pole slipped and he fell, causing cuts and bruises and jarring his knee.

Despite the fall, he was still able to cross the finish line after completing the final leg of the route on the back of a donkey, and by doing so, hopes to have raised more than £1,000 for the Watford Friends of Salfeet.

Rasseed, who is originally from Mauritius and waved its national flag on top of Mount Toubkal, said: “This one was part of my mission to do as many mountains as possible. I thought I might be too old but I gave it my best shot.

“The whole thing was very challenging. The terrain was very rough. We had to walk through knee-deep water and there were lots of steep climbs.

“But it was so rewarding, a wonderful feeling and a sense of achievement. The views around were absolutely fantastic.

“This project would be good for young people to experience. It's very exciting and uplifting. I think a lot of people would thoroughly enjoy it.”

Rasseed now hopes to return to Mount Kilamanjaro in Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa, next year.

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