It was around 7 p.m. on October 6 when 11 Maltese trekkers started digging deep into their haversacks in search of dry clothing, food and any form of insulation.

They were meant to be cooking themselves a warm meal in one of the camp sites en route to the highest mountain peaks in north Africa. Instead, they were stranded on rough terrain, 3,800 metres above sea level, in the cold.

It was a major damper for seasoned trekker Marco Cremona, and 10 other friends, as they attempted to climb the 4,167 metre Jbel Toubkal mountain in Morocco.

From Imlil, a nearby mountain village, they had embarked on a six-day trekking expedition carrying maps, GPS, water, food and warm clothing. They hired two mules, each capable of carrying 60 kg of supplies.

After eight hours the group reached their first stop, a mountain refuge 3,000 metres above sea level, where they set up their tents and spent the night. The plan for the next day was to climb up to a high plateau and then take a steep descent along a trekking path to reach the refuge at the base of the mountain, where they intended to sleep and prepare for the summit assault the following day.

Abiding religiously by the guidebook, the trekking path became a climbing route. In some instances the team had to use a rope to lower themselves down short vertical drops.

Any form of path disappeared at this stage, and the sun was beginning to set. They realised they were nowhere near a refuge. It had been a long day and the trekkers tried to scout around the area for any sign of a path that would lead to the refuge - but it was all in vain. To make matters worse, venturing on meant they risked falling down the 500-metre drop offs.

Mr Cremona said: "It was 6 p.m., getting dark and dangerous to walk on that kind of terrain. We decided to find a sheltered place but we knew it was going to be a rough night."

The area resembled the Għajn Tuffieħa clay slopes, so any hope for comfort was out of the question. The team found a narrow ledge in the scree slopes, and decided it would be their bed for the night.

The group had no sleeping bags, tents or spare clothes, and only three sleeping mats to cater for 11 people. They had no choice but to use garbage bags for insulation from the chilly mountain rock. Some of them tried to be innovative and 'wore' their haversacks to protect their feet from the cold.

Despite the precarious situation, there was no panic. Mr Cremona was equipped with a satellite phone and the group informed the refuge camp that they were stranded on the ridge and would make their way up the plateau at daybreak. He had also taken a transmitting device that could relay three messages to Malta - 'OK', 'Help' and 'Call 911'.

However, he refused to send a signal fearing it could cause panic at home. During the night the group flickered their torches to try and alert the trekkers staying in the refuge camp some 800 metres below the ridge.

"Mobile phone batteries were spent and my spectacles were frosted over. We huddled together in groups of three and tried to sleep, but we were still shivering continuously. Some of our group started showing signs of altitude sickness, exhaustion, hunger and dehydration. It was very unpleasant."

At the first light, determined to fulfil their task, the trekkers climbed up to the plateau where they met a local 'guide' who agreed to help them out.

But the stresses only piled up after the 'guide' suggested they traverse a ledge measuring less than half a metre with a 400-metre drop to reach their destination.

"Since everyone was tired, and seeing the look of panic on some people's faces, I decided to veto the move, especially since we did not have any safety ropes or harnesses," Mr Cremona said.

They took the long way around and reached the refuge camp from which they had set off the day before. When they eventually reached the summit two days later it was almost an anti-climax. The Morocco trip taught the trekkers to be prepared.

"On that day most of our team members were only equipped with the stuff needed for a day's trek; although some members of the team carried some emergency provisions and clothing."

Jbel Toubkal is a relatively easy trek by the team's mountaineering standards and Mr Cremona admitted that this could have led to overconfidence.

"Ultimately, it could have ended badly, and I think we were very lucky the weather didn't get worse that night. The wind chill factor can plunge temperatures to as low as -20° C."

Mr Cremona intends to relay his grievances to the guide book publishers, especially after he established that the path they tried to follow does not even exist.

Nevertheless, the sour experience has failed to put him off his next mission. Together with climbing companions Gregory Attard and Robert Gatt, he will be attempting to climb Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world, in September.