20th September 2008 

Reaching Mokhotlong, the capital of one of the most northern districts of Lesotho, felt like another achievement on top of the rest. During the beginning of my trek I would always tell people I was walking to Mokhotlong in the North. To this they would say that I would never make it and that it was too far and even that I would die trying. But now having talked about it for so long and it seeming so far away, it was very satisfying to finally reach Mokhotlong.

Mokhotlong, I had heard, had a 'wild west' feel to it with an abundance of horses and a real sense of isolation. To me though, it was a metropolis where I could satisfy all my cravings like liquorice allsorts, fried cakes (maquinya) and hot showers.

This is one of my favorite photos so far. A Basotho Grandmother and her grandchildern in the Mokhotlong Valley, the true highlands

The first family that I stayed with on the way to Mokhotlong after Sani Top

A lamb looking for its teet, about to latch onto the camera. Cutest thing ever!

The man who's family put me up for the night

Ok, now to the snow part!

Only a day before the snow when I was up in the Mokhotlong Valley, I sensed that something strange was happening in the sky. The clouds were different; they seemed almost restless, with dark wispy patches gathering slowly. By the next morning it was raining steadily. Noone was expecting snow, although I had been told that it snows at least once in September.

Well the snow started alright! It started and it started big. The flakes were large enough to catch in your mouth and to cover everything in a white coating within minutes. I had only seen and celebrated flakes like that in the French Alps while snowboarding. So it snowed and snowed and kept snowing all night! Larlie, who I’m guessing had never seen snow before, let alone so much snow, was horrified at being left outside. I think he stood still for the first 4 hours of snow, too scared and cold to move. But by the morning he was up to his normal shenanigans - I woke to find him eating the village hedge.

The next morning was warm and the 7 inches or so, of snow began to melt quickly. I decided I would start walking at day, as I had planned, because the snow was going fast and the skies were clear and unmenaching. AND it would be so beautiful up in the mountains and it would be fun to walk in the snow and slush.

Larlie in Mokhotlong, and not impressed at being left out in the snow

Larlie in the snow in Mokhotlong. It soon became slush with a nice warm day

Can you believe this is in Africa!!!

Snow!!! The cleanest water around!

Silly snowness in Mokhotlong

I spent the day marvelling on the amazing view and splashing happily in the mud and puddles, while Larlie spent the day puffing up the slippery muddy slopes. The snow seemed to give the landscape a different dimension. Usually at this time of year its hard to define each mountain in the distance because they are all the same shade of dry brown, but now with the snow it seemed to have more depth and the skies seemed clearer. Steam rose up of the roads and the place seemed to have a magical feel about it. It  was a memorable day of walking that day!