Story by Disebo Mositsi
@club_thapoha @visitlesotho
@PaulyLes
π±πΈπ±πΈπ±πΈπ±πΈ
#3Ranges #2023
#LowestToHighestPoint
#MaidenHike
1-13 October 2023
This, for me, is a testimony. It is a dream come true
It started as just an idea. It seemed like a mere dream, something unattainable... too far. And yes, indeed a 300km hike was unheard of. A 13-day hike. The first sectional hike in Lesotho. This is a new thing in many respects.
The concept was then developed into a project with an implementation plan and an organizing team.
After more than one year of planning and preparations the hike finally started with a camping session at the trailhead, at the confluence of Senqu River and Makhaleng River (in Khauteng, pakeng tsa Senqu le Makhaleng) on Day 0 on 30 September 2023.
I thank God for the opportunity to have been part of the organizing committee, a member of the scouting team (path finders) and finally to have been one of the hike leaders with one section fully assigned to me. It was such an honour and a privilege to serve fellow hikers. I am truly grateful that the dream has come to pass. I witnessed it and I am one of the pioneers. When we were mapping, we did so in sections, so all of us were doing the entire trail, from the trailhead to the end point, for the very first time.
I thank God for protecting me as a person. I walked for thirteen days without any injury, no muscle strain nor blisters.
I wanted to leave the trail for a few days, but the door was closed (for God causes ALL things to happen together for our good).
As a hike leader, I thank God that fellow hikers did not face any challenges that could not be addressed and that all the fifteen that started the trail with intentions to summit Thabana Ntlenyana, the peak of the Drakensberg, the highest mountain in Lesotho π±πΈ and the highest point in Southern Africa, did so at 12h20 on 13 October 2023.
A big THANKS to Thapoha_Hiking_Club and to the Pioneers.... History has been made. As I said to fellow hikers when speaking on behalf of the organizing team, during the closing ceremony, the product that has has been developed is for the entire hiking community. It is for our country π±πΈ. It is our contribution towards developing hiking sport and towards tourism development. Le rona re lumela hore bohahlauli ke mokokotlo oa moruo oa Lesotho π±πΈ 'me hona ke seabo sa rona. We want Lesotho to be hikers' haven. We desire to see local and international hikers enjoying this spectacular hiking trek and many more that this beautiful country has to offer.
#LoveLesotho
#TsebaLesotho
#feelingfulfilled
#gratitude
#PraisesToGod
#icandoallthingsthroughchristwhogivesmestrength