An experience in the desert turns into a nightmare for the trip participants

Participants of the Trek Rose Trip Morocco, including at least two teams from Quebec, faced a harrowing experience when they had to evacuate base camp where there was a major outbreak of bacteria that causes diarrhea and vomiting.

After months of preparation, Julie Morin from Quebec and her colleagues Marie-Hélène Raymond and Elisabeth Côté had a bitter taste from their experience with the French agency Désertours.

For Chamelles des dunes, the name of his group, the experience ended after two days of walking. They had to cut short their trip after the symptoms got the better of them. They were still able to complete two loops with a total length of about 37 km.

According to Julie Morin, about a quarter of the approximately 800 participants on the Rose Trip Trek have become ill, including a few who are still receiving drips.

Base camp gathering place.

Image taken from the Facebook page Les Camelles des dunes

“The shocking thing about this is that a week before, there was a Roses des Sables march. The participants were staying in the same campsite as us and they faced the same problems.

“This means that they welcomed us into temporary accommodation knowing full well what happened a few days ago without taking any corrective action.”

Their nightmare began last weekend. From this moment many participants began to fall ill. They have been gathered to participate in the Women’s Desert Orienteering Challenge.

The Quebec resident added: “We saw girls dropping like flies, lying on the ground waiting to receive care.”

Trek Rose Trip Maroc participants, including a team from Quebec, had a harrowing experience. (Photo taken from the Facebook page Les Chamelles des dunes)

Image taken from the Facebook page Les Camelles des dunes

She and her colleagues question the sanitary conditions at the scene. The tents in which food was prepared were located near the latrines and emptied outdoors.

Marie-Claude Jeanne Vaillancourt, who was part of the Lavaltry team, regrets that organizers downplayed what was happening. Two of her teammates fell ill, including one who had to be rescued in the desert.

“There were about 30 toilets for 800 participants, plus volunteers. This is definitely not enough. In addition, our water was cut off at night.”^I Vaillancourt, who returned to the country on Wednesday evening.

Work class

M explained.^I Maureen.

The Trek Rose Trip 2023 & Trophy Roses des Sables pandemic group has been created on Facebook. Participants affected by this outbreak plan are demanding compensation.

Medical tests are conducted to determine the strain of bacteria. Désertours officials did not respond to our interview request. In total, 27 teams from Canada participated in this challenge.