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Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and
Descriptions
ISENGARD TO MINAS TIRITH: Gandalf and
Pippin’s Path (517 miles)
by
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of
Middle-earth
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________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
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Cumulative
Miles
for Leg
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Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
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Location/description at the
Milepost.
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Mar. 5 – Day 1: 17 miles
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0
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0
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Isengard. Confrontation
with Saruman. Gandalf breaks Saruman’s staff.
Grima Wormtongue casts down the palantír of Orthanc. Pippin
retrieves it,
but Gandalf quickly takes it. Leave Isengard (ca. 4 p.m.).
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.5
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.5
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Pass through the gates of Isengard. Follow the stone-paved
road south.
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2
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1.5
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Flooded spots gradually are disappearing.
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4
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2
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Pass the pillar of the White Hand. Ents have broken the hand
apart.
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6
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2
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Stone pavement ends. Highway continues.
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8
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2
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Night falls. Waxing moon rises.
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10
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2
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All around are tree stumps, weeds and thorns.
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14
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4
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Leave the Wizard’s Vale. Highway goes SSE toward the Fords.
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16
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2
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Reach the campsite of the night before. Turn west.
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17
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1
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Camp (ca. 10 p.m.). In a dale next to the south-facing slope
of Dol Baran,
the last hill of the northern ranges. Heather and bracken fern are
turning
green. While Gandalf sleeps, Pippin takes the palantír and is
seen by
Sauron. Gandalf plans to ride out at once with Pippin. When a Nazgûl
rides
over, he warns Théoden to not wait for the dawn to leave.
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Mar. 5/6 – Nt./Day 2: 140
miles (6 hours)
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18
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1
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Gandalf and Pippin return to the highway and turn south (ca.
11 p.m.).
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32
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14
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Shadowfax reaches the west bank by the Fords of Isen.
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33
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1
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Midnight. Shadowfax crosses the Fords of Isen.
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42
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9
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Gandalf points out the peaks of the Thrihyrne to the south. He
tells Pippin
the history of the palantíri – the Seeing Stones of Gondor.
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48
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6
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Reach the road to the Deeping Coomb and Helm’s Deep. Gandalf
tells
Pippin to ask Gimli about the Glittering Caves of Aglarond. Gandalf
urges
Shadowfax to even greater speed.
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70
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22
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Cross a small stream. Brief stop. Eat.
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80
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10
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Cross a small stream.
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93
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13
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Cross a small stream.
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100
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7
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Cross a small stream.
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109
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9
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Cross a small stream.
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120
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11
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Cross a small stream.
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133
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13
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Cross a small stream.
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156
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23
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Dawn. Ford the Snowbourne. Turn left on the road to Edoras.
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157
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1
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Climb to Meduseld. Nazgûl flies over. Pippin sleeps during the
day (Mar.
6). Gandalf begins organizing the Muster of Rohan.
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Mar. 6/7 – Nt./Day 3: 120
miles (12 hours)
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158
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1
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Dusk. Return to the road. Ride east at great speed.
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160
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2
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The road curves easterly around the mountain spur behind
Edoras.
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162
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2
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The Snowbourne meanders through willow trees left of the road.
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172
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10
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The road curves southeast, hugging the eastern foothills of
Irensaga.
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180
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8
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Hills draw away to the south. Road continues through willows.
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190
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10
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Scattered trees broaden into a wide willow thicket where the
Snowbourne
meets the Entwash.
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198
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8
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Willow woods end. Road turns more south, parallels the Entwash.
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210
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12
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Reach the area called the ‘Folde’, tucked against the hills,
sheltered from the
west and the south. A snowcapped peak rises on the south. North across
the
river the wide grassy Plains of Rohan are moonlit.
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220
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10
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Road turns more to the east. Brief stop. Eat.
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226
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6
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Cross a small stream.
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237
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11
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Cross a small stream.
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250
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13
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North of the road, the Entwash, flowing more slowly in the
level plains is
choked with vegetation and splits into multiple braided channels.
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257
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7
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Cross a small stream. Enter the area called the ‘Fenmarch’ – a
wetter area,
especially north of the road where the Entwash becomes sluggish and
starts
to expand outward into a delta.
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274
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17
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Cross a small stream.
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277
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3
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South of the road great oak trees begin to appear – outliers
of Firien Wood.
Camp during day (Mar. 7).
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Mar. 7/8 – Nt./Day 4: 120
miles (12 hours)
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277
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0
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Leave at dusk.
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290
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13
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Northeast across the plain (80 miles away) the East Wall of
Rohan and the
Western Emyn Muil could be seen if it were daylight.
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293
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3
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Cross the Mering Stream: Gondor.
Enter the heart of the Firien Wood.
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304
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11
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The Beacon of Halifirien lies right of the road on a hill
which rises above
the trees.
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315
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11
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Leave Firien Wood.
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317
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2
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Cross a small stream. The
Beacons are Lit: far to the east Pippin spots the
beacon of Amon Dîn as it is lit. Almost immediately the beacon fires to
the
west are ignited. Gandalf explains the beacons to Pippin.
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325
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8
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The snowcapped peak above Calenhad rises to the right, lit by
the nearly full
moon.
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336
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11
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The beacon tower of Calenhad stands on a foothill of Canlenhad
peak. The
beacon fires are now extinguished. Brief stop. Eat.
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354
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18
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Cross a small stream.
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365
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11
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Cross a small stream. The beacon hill of Minrimmon is on the
right.
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370
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5
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To the north the delta of the Entwash has broadened to over 50
miles.
Rauros lies beyond, 100 miles away. Setting moon lights mists over the
fens.
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380
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10
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High above to the south rise the sawtoothed tips of Rimmon –
the highest
peak in the eastern White Mountains.
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397
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17
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Dawn. Camp near the beacon hill of Erelas (day of Mar. 8).
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Mar. 8/9 – Nt./Day 5: 120
miles (12 hours)
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397
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0
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Leave at dusk.
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411
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14
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Cross a small stream.
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416
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5
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Pass the beacon on Nardol, the ‘Fire Hill.’
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428
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12
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Cross a small stream – the last which empties into the delta
of the Entwash.
West edge of Drúadan Forest south of the road.
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444
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16
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Eilenach beacon stands on a steep hill to the south, rising
above the trees of
Drúadan Forest.
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457
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13
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Brief stop. Eat.
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464
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7
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Road curves slightly to the south. Due east across the Anduin
the peaks of
the Ephel Dùath stand dark against the moonlit sky.
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472
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8
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The beacon hill Amon Dîn is 5 miles due south.
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478
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6
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Road curves still more south around Amon Dîn.
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482
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4
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Road runs SE. The thickets of the Grey Wood begin right of the
road.
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490
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8
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The Morgul Vale lies 35 miles due east.
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496
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6
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The Grey Wood ends.
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500
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4
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Mt. Mindolluin is visible to the southwest, lit by the predawn
glow.
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507
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7
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Dawn. Gandalf is challenged by the guards at the gate of the
Rammas
Echor: the wall surrounding the Pelennor Fields. Repairs are underway.
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517
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10
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Reach the Gates of Minas
Tirith.
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Bonus Miles
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Ride to 6th level, then climb to the Citadel (1.6
mi.). Talk with Denethor.
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Bonus Miles
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Pippin’s travels around the city.
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________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
+517 Miles = Isengard to
Minas Tirith: Gandalf and Pippin’s Path
+________ = Bonus Miles for
this part of the Journey
_________ = Your Personal
Journey thus far
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