Lesotho Trip - 15th- 17th June 2013

[ricster]

Chances are that during the day, you may be able to turn off your engine as outside temps may be at an acceptable level, but at night the temps may drop way down below freezing. If I recall correctly, at times during the mornings we were driving around at temps of - 4 deg C, but the wind was calm. if the wind is pumping.... you won't hang around outside for very long. We drove through a short blizzard going into Afriski and a much bigger blizzard driving out of Afriski.... that was friggin cold with the wind chill factor and somewhat scary !!

The amount of fuel needed is difficult to gauge. If you drive on a long journey, how many hours before you need to fill up? You won't be using fuel at a high rate so I would presume around 20 hours .... but this is a pure guess !!!

You will also, if driving a diesel need to get an anti-gel additive to pour into your tank to stop the diesel from solidifying. There were a few guys stuck up there last year, with this problem. They could only start their cars once the diesel became liquid again.

Grant and myself never experienced any problems with this, but it may be because of us having old technology 4.2 diesels and not common rail diesels....

[Div@]

Thank you

Yes TD 27, were can I find the additive and do you block your intercooler intake. On previous trip (8 ton truck in winter) I had to put shields in front of the radiator as the truck started to backfire and splatter. Love the cold and want to try camping this year - Sani top - anybody tried it?

[ricster]

I need numbers for the bookings of the accommodation and prices.

1) Cedric - 2 adults and 2 kids
2) Grant - 2 Adults
3) Wimpie - (2 adults and 2 kids)+(2 adults and 2 kids)+(2 adults and 2 kids)+(1 adult)
4. greg justus
5. Adrian & Kerry (Work dependant)
6. schalk with 2 friends (maybe)
7. Peet and Anne-mart

[PeetO]

I need numbers for the bookings of the accommodation and prices.

1) Cedric - 2 adults and 2 kids
2) Grant - 2 Adults
3) Wimpie - (2 adults and 2 kids)+(2 adults and 2 kids)+(2 adults and 2 kids)+(1 adult)
4. greg justus
5. Adrian & Kerry (Work dependant)
6. schalk with 2 friends (maybe)
7. Peet and Anne-mart (2 adults)

Cedric hope you received my pm with contact details.

Peet

[ricster]

Ok .... Accommodation is booked, just need to confirm room allocations for Mokhotlong and Bethlehem....
I send an email to the guys on the list.... so we are sitting on about 26 people

Peet, yes I did thanks. Let me know if you got the e-mail I sent.

[Overdrive]

For some reason I cant copy the list on to this post so I'll just add
8) Rod & Jenny

Just a thought: Sani Top is a nice place and one can easily make it from there to Afriski in one day (assuming the road is open). Its probably booked up by now but its worth a try. Ive stayed there and in Mokhotlong and in my experience, Sani top is a much better option.
Ooops I missed the previous post. Is there still space for 2 more?

[ricster]

Hi Rod,

There is still space, the last two spots!!!!... Rod ( aka Lucky Luke) you are genuinely the lucky man. I will e-mail you the details for payments.

Right the trip is fully booked now !!!.... looking forward to a great adventure.

Note for all:

Please note if you have a licensed VHF radio ( ORRA frequencies), remember to bring it with....... we are "legally" not allowed to use them in Lesotho..... but...

[ricster]

Rod... there are about 26 of us and I was battling to get bookings for that amount all together... ( I also left it a bit late... my fault)... so Mokhotlong was the next best spot that could accommodate us.

Now we just need to hope for some snow..... cause I get a set of 2 snow chains, and would love to try them out.....ha ha ha

[Overdrive]

If the Iron Maiden needs snow chains then we really are going to be in trouble
Thanks for squeezing us in. I will attend to the admin.

[Alex Roux]

Guys

I just went to Lesotho this weekend and got an early winter scare.
Me, and 60 other crazy people (16 turned back before reaching the half-way mark and other more sane runners never bothered to start the race)
started running at 6 am in rainy (then snowing) weather from the SA side of the Drakensberg, ascended through the Mnweni valley and reached the summit, where we crossed over the origin of the orange river.
It took me 9 hours to finish. I have honestly never been this cold in my life and the conditions made it undoubtedly the hardest trail run I have ever done.

Why do I tell you this?
- Because no Troll can get up there, not even with 35" muddies, front lockers and chains.
- Because, if this weekend is anything to go by, this coming Lesotho trip will be even more snowy than the ones before.

Half way up, not so cold yet. My facial muscles could still make a smile

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The "runner" behind me

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The origin of the Orange river (Lesotho side)

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