Home
Isengard to Minas Tirith - Gandalf and Pippin's Path

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

________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles) for your Personal Journey thus far:

Cumulative

Miles for Leg

Miles from last Mile- Post

Location/description at the Milepost.

Mar. 5 – Day 1: 17 miles

0

0

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.).

.5

.5

Pass through the gates of Isengard. Follow the stone-paved road south.

2

1.5

Flooded spots gradually are disappearing.

4

2

Pass the pillar of the White Hand. Ents have broken the hand apart.

6

2

Stone pavement ends. Highway continues.

8

2

Night falls. Waxing moon rises.

10

2

All around are tree stumps, weeds and thorns.

14

4

Leave the Wizard’s Vale. Highway goes SSE toward the Fords.

16

2

Reach the campsite of the night before. Turn west.

17

1

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.

Mar. 5/6 – Nt./Day 2: 140 miles (6 hours)

18

1

Gandalf and Pippin return to the highway and turn south (ca. 11 p.m.).

32

14

Shadowfax reaches the west bank by the Fords of Isen.

33

1

Midnight. Shadowfax crosses the Fords of Isen.

42

9

Gandalf points out the peaks of the Thrihyrne to the south. He tells Pippin the history of the palantíri – the Seeing Stones of Gondor.

48

6

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.

70

22

Cross a small stream. Brief stop. Eat.

80

10

Cross a small stream.

93

13

Cross a small stream.

100

7

Cross a small stream.

109

9

Cross a small stream.

120

11

Cross a small stream.

133

13

Cross a small stream.

156

23

Dawn. Ford the Snowbourne. Turn left on the road to Edoras.

157

1

Climb to Meduseld. Nazgûl flies over. Pippin sleeps during the day (Mar. 6). Gandalf begins organizing the Muster of Rohan.

Mar. 6/7 – Nt./Day 3: 120 miles (12 hours)

158

1

Dusk. Return to the road. Ride east at great speed.

160

2

The road curves easterly around the mountain spur behind Edoras.

162

2

The Snowbourne meanders through willow trees left of the road.

172

10

The road curves southeast, hugging the eastern foothills of Irensaga.

180

8

Hills draw away to the south. Road continues through willows.

190

10

Scattered trees broaden into a wide willow thicket where the Snowbourne meets the Entwash.

198

8

Willow woods end. Road turns more south, parallels the Entwash.

210

12

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.

220

10

Road turns more to the east. Brief stop. Eat.

226

6

Cross a small stream.

237

11

Cross a small stream.

250

13

North of the road, the Entwash, flowing more slowly in the level plains is choked with vegetation and splits into multiple braided channels.

257

7

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.

274

17

Cross a small stream.

277

3

South of the road great oak trees begin to appear – outliers of Firien Wood. Camp during day (Mar. 7).

Mar. 7/8 – Nt./Day 4: 120 miles (12 hours)

277

0

Leave at dusk.

290

13

Northeast across the plain (80 miles away) the East Wall of Rohan and the Western Emyn Muil could be seen if it were daylight.

293

3

Cross the Mering Stream: Gondor. Enter the heart of the Firien Wood.

304

11

The Beacon of Halifirien lies right of the road on a hill which rises above the trees.

315

11

Leave Firien Wood.

317

2

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.

325

8

The snowcapped peak above Calenhad rises to the right, lit by the nearly full moon.

336

11

The beacon tower of Calenhad stands on a foothill of Canlenhad peak. The beacon fires are now extinguished. Brief stop. Eat.

354

18

Cross a small stream.

365

11

Cross a small stream. The beacon hill of Minrimmon is on the right.

370

5

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.

380

10

High above to the south rise the sawtoothed tips of Rimmon – the highest peak in the eastern White Mountains.

397

17

Dawn. Camp near the beacon hill of Erelas (day of Mar. 8).

Mar. 8/9 – Nt./Day 5: 120 miles (12 hours)

397

0

Leave at dusk.

411

14

Cross a small stream.

416

5

Pass the beacon on Nardol, the ‘Fire Hill.’

428

12

Cross a small stream – the last which empties into the delta of the Entwash. West edge of Drúadan Forest south of the road.

444

16

Eilenach beacon stands on a steep hill to the south, rising above the trees of Drúadan Forest.

457

13

Brief stop. Eat.

464

7

Road curves slightly to the south. Due east across the Anduin the peaks of the Ephel Dùath stand dark against the moonlit sky.

472

8

The beacon hill Amon Dîn is 5 miles due south.

478

6

Road curves still more south around Amon Dîn.

482

4

Road runs SE. The thickets of the Grey Wood begin right of the road.

490

8

The Morgul Vale lies 35 miles due east.

496

6

The Grey Wood ends.

500

4

Mt. Mindolluin is visible to the southwest, lit by the predawn glow.

507

7

Dawn. Gandalf is challenged by the guards at the gate of the Rammas Echor: the wall surrounding the Pelennor Fields. Repairs are underway.

517

10

Reach the Gates of Minas Tirith.

Bonus Miles

Ride to 6th level, then climb to the Citadel (1.6 mi.). Talk with Denethor.

Bonus Miles

Pippin’s travels around the city.

________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

The Éowyn Challenge Web Site is operated by and is a fan site for fans of the Lord of the Rings Book Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien, Ballantine Books, and the Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy by New Line Cinemas and Director Peter Jackson. All quotes used on this site are either from the book series or the movie series, and we make no claim that these are own. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law. If any copyright or trademark owner herein objects to our use of their material on this site, they should contact the webmaster eowynchallenge@yahoo.com and such material will be taken down immediately. All copyrights to original artwork, photography, or literature posted on this site are the property of their owners.   The mileage charts on this website are the property of Karen Fonstad and may be reprinted for personal use to record your Personal Journey only.