Push your luck and you may come to a sticky end. This is what Malan van Zyl and eight of his friends learned when they tackled three of the most remote and challenging mountain passes in Lesotho – in winter.

Mike’s Landy is balanced precariously on the edge of the Jockstrap Pass, its nose jutting into the air and its rear suspended over the precipice. In the rear-view mirror Mike can see the thin silver line of the river meandering through the valley, 500 metres below. When he leans forward, the nose dips down; when he leans back, it lifts up. Instinctively he removes his safety belt.

He sits motionless, foot hard on the brake, the engine still idling. He opens his door to jump out if all else fails. Next he moves the gear lever into parking mode, but this small movement dislodges the last stone holding the Landy and it flips backwards and starts falling down the slope.

There’s no chance of jumping now, so Mike slips under the steering wheel, holding on to the rod and pedals for dear life. The Landy freefalls for the first three metres before the rear hits the ground. Then it starts tumbling down the mountain, front over back, going higher and faster as it picks up momentum. The ground, blue sky and river far below flash by in a crazy rollercoaster ride…

Planning, planning and more planning
Five months earlier an accident was the last thing on our minds. Our plan was to cross the Sani Pass into Lesotho and then to travel over the breadth of the country until we reached three of the roughest, most remote, difficult and nigh impassable mountain passes in Lesotho – mostly used by donkeys and motorcycles – which we wanted to conquer in 4x4 vehicles. In winter.

We had selected three challenging passes based on their degree of difficulty: Bobbejaans Pass (near Ramabanta) which scores eight out of 10 on a scale of difficulty; Letele Pass (direction Pitseng, north of the Katse Dam), scoring nine out of 10; and for relaxation and fun we would cross the Rampai Pass (four out of 10, also near Pitseng). On the way we would also go up the Sani Pass, just for fun. We researched all possible routes, gathering information from whoever we could. (An Internet search revealed few records of previous attempts.)

We heard stories of groups who had taken three days to reach the top of the 22 km Bobbejaans Pass; others struggled for two days to complete the 7 km Letele Pass. We heard about fearsome precipices, rock falls, vehicles breaking down, and drivers abandoning all hope.

Sudden snowstorms and helicopter rescue operations are all part of the modern legends of these mountains. The more we heard about the dangers, the more we felt compelled to take on the challenge…

It is possible for vehicles to cross these passes, but they are mainly used by donkeys and pedestrians, since these roads are seldom, if ever, maintained.

“Impassable to only just do-able” – that was our friends’ advice when we told them of our plan to cover the three passes in the week set aside for this adventure.

Cruisers, Landys, everything…
Our group consisted of Gary and Denise Bauer in a 1996 Land Rover Defender Tdi, Mike Porter and Brian Hogg in “Yellow Car” (a purpose-built 1992 yellow Land Rover Defender with a short wheel base and super extreme suspension) and three Land Cruisers: Geoff Russell and Garth Clarkson in a 1996 Land Cruiser 4.5 GX, Martin and Sonia van Jaarsveld in a 1995 Land Cruiser 4.5 GXL, and me in my 1997 Land Cruiser 4.5 GX.

The vehicles were meticulously examined and thoroughly serviced beforehand. Radiators were filled with anti-freeze to withstand temperatures of -20˚C; steel rock-sliders were bought to protect the more vulnerable undercarriages; large, deep-tread tyres would provide extra-strong grip where necessary, aided by vacuum-driven diff locks.

We packed GPSs, medical supplies, a satellite phone, snow chains for the wheels; a 20 kg hammer and crowbar to break rocks, tied to the bull bar; high-lift jacks, chains, towing ropes and all possible spare parts and tools were loaded in preparation for the great unknown. Special clothes, beanies and gloves were added for Lesotho’s coldest and wettest nights.