A Life Of Adventure
BBC editor Alice Morrison left the nine to five behind and moved to Morocco for the life of an explorer
Alice Morrison switched up office life for endless treks and marathons in Africa
IN her mid-40s, Alice Morrison said goodbye to corporate life – and became a full-time adventurer! Now, 10 years later, rather than her previous high-flying media jobs, Alice’s CV lists walking from the Atlas Mountains to the Atlantic, running round Everest and trekking across the Sahara. And, by the time this article appears, Alice should be approaching the end of a 78-day trek – the final leg of a three-part expedition to walk the length, and most of the breadth, of Morocco.
The first leg saw Edinburgh-born Alice, accompanied by three Berber guides and five camels, becoming the first woman to walk the 1496km (930 miles) length of
Morocco’s Draa River – and also discovering a lost city on the way.
“One evening, I wanted to send a Whatsapp message to my mum in Edinburgh,” Alice says. “In search of a signal, I scrambled up a nearby cliff, found a seat on a rock and started texting. The sun was going down and, as I looked up from my phone, I was amazed to see the remains of ancient buildings scattered across the hilltop.
“There was no record of a settlement in the area, yet spread out in front of me were the ruins of a massive ancient settlement, spread over three hills. I’d found a lost city, which is a dream come true for an explorer!”
The second part of Alice’s Moroccan odyssey was a 1609km (1000-mile) trek across the Sahara, which she describes as her toughest adventure so far.
“At the end of yet another day battling wind, heat and sandstorms, my three guides and I would unload the camels and set up camp as quickly as we could. Then we’d flake out in our tent, hot, sweaty and exhausted.”
Alice’s Sahara expedition also proved to be dangerous. “We walked through landmines, dodged poisonous snakes and our camels got stuck in deadly quicksand.
“The camels quickly sank up to their chests in the quicksand. They were tethered together and there was a very real risk they’d all drown. Thankfully, the guides were able to keep them calm and pull them out.
“That night, we celebrated our camels’ survival by sharing the small bottle of cola I always take with me. As the four of us drank warm cola from my mint tea glasses, we felt like kings!”
Often described as “Indiana Jones for Girls”, Alice reckons she’s always had an adventurous streak.
“My parents, who were teachers, moved to Africa when I was six weeks old and I spent my first six years running free in the African Bush,” she says.
“We moved back to Scotland when my dad got a job at a school in Oban. My parents couldn’t afford a house so we lived in a tent before graduating to a caravan, which was great fun. I was free to climb trees and swim in the freezing sea.”
After studying Arabic and Turkish at Edinburgh University, Alice became a journalist then co-editor with the BBC, ending up as CEO of a government-funded company supporting the creative industry.
“I always had great jobs but I remember lying in bed thinking ‘What do I want to do with the second half of my life?’ I was determined to find a way to follow the passions of my younger days – writing and travelling.”
One year later, Alice’s company lost its funding
“The camels sank up to their chests in quicksand
and she was made redundant. “I decided to turn a negative into a positive and signed up for the 2011 Tour D’afrique, the longest bike race in the world,” she says.
“Along with 62 other cyclists, I cycled 12,874km (8000 miles) from Cairo to Cape Town on some of Africa’s most gruelling cycling routes. For four months, we cycled up mountains, along horrendous lava roads and over miles of sand ruts that resembled corrugated iron.
“And I was nearly killed by a charging bull elephant. I could feel the earth trembling. I knew a male elephant could run faster than I could cycle so I pedalled like heck! Thankfully, he stopped when I left his territory.”
After cycling the length of Africa, Alice returned to the UK looking for a new challenge – and found the Marathon des Sables, the world’s toughest footrace.
“I’m a terrible runner and I’d never even considered doing a marathon, but this 251km (156-mile) race across the Sahara involved running seven marathons in six days.”
To prepare, Alice moved to Morocco to train in the desert’s high temperatures – and promptly fell in love.
“Some women who come to Morocco fall in love with a man, but I fell in love with the whole country!”
Despite training for the Marathon des Sables for almost a year, Alice admits she was doubtful she’d reach the end, especially when her feet were torn to pieces after only the first day. “Somehow, I kept going and when I finally crossed the finishing line, a heavenly feeling rushed through me. I’d done it.
“That’s when I decided to stay in Morocco and commit to my heart’s desire of being an adventurer.”
Alice’s first “official” adventure was to walk from the highest point in North Africa, Mount Tobkal, to the
Atlantic Ocean. “My guide, Rachind, and I were the first people to undertake this challenge. Many of the Berber villages we walked through were so remote, the villagers had never met a European.
Next, Alice explored Africa’s ancient Salt Roads for the BBC documentary series From Morocco to Timbuktu.
“My highlight of that expedition was a party with the Tuerag tribe!” says Alice.
“Being overweight is the Tuerag ideal of beauty and these enormous, stunning women were sitting crosslegged on the sand while skinny men leapt up and down like frogs to attract their attention. What a night!”
Three years ago, Alice moved from Marrakesh to a remote village high in the Atlas Mountains, where she lives in a tiny flat with her cat, Squeaky. She moved here to train for the Everest Trail Race Ultra, a six-day, 160km (100-mile) ultra-marathon around the base of Everest.
“Through my adventures, I want to highlight what’s happening to the planet as our climate and our society changes. I want to tell the stories that bring us together – and inspire others to get out there and explore!”
“My highlight of that expedition tribe” was a party with the Tuerag