Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and
Descriptions
LOTHLÓRIEN TO RAUROS (389 Miles)
by
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of
Middle-earth
Note: There are several changes
in this section compared with The Atlas of Middle-earth. These
are due to
reanalysis of the LOTR:FR text, including the importance of Gollum’s
having been seen on the 4th day. The
subsequent change to night travel, plus a recalculation of canoe
speeds, altered both daily journeys and
campsite locations. Speed of drift is shown as 2.8 mph – the same as
Boromir’s funeral boat journey.
Maximum paddling speed is calculated as 4.8 mph (drift speed plus 2mph
– the latter being the average
speed of an experienced canoist with no wind).
Ref: British Columbia Search
and Rescue, www.sarbc.org/speed.html#canoe
My thanks to Michael Perry’s Untangling
Tolkien for pointing out the discrepancy in canoe speeds.
|
920
Miles = Cumulative Journey thus far: Bag End to Lothlórien
|
Cumulative
Miles
for
Walk
|
Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
|
Location/description at the
Milepost.
|
Feb. 16 – Day 1: 31 miles
(Hike + 7.5 hours on river)
|
0
|
0
|
Leave Caras Galadon after breakfast. Lembas, cloaks
and rope are
provided. Haldir guides the Fellowship south and east through rolling
woodlands, which fall away toward the rivers.
|
10
|
10
|
Noon – Reach grassy lawn on the Silverlode just west of the
Anduin.
Practice paddling. Meet swan-ship of Celeborn and Galadriel. Lunch
and gift-giving. Leave in 3 small boats (ca. 1 p.m.).
|
14
|
4
|
DRIFT. Sweep around a bend, and high banks hide the light of
Lórien.
|
24
|
10
|
Bare woods on both banks. Land is silent. Misty. Dusk comes
early.
|
31
|
7
|
Camp in woods on west bank (ca. 8:30 p.m.). Dreary and cold.
|
Feb. 17 – Day 2: 36 miles (13
hours)
|
31
|
0
|
Leave early (ca. 7:30 a.m.). Bare trees continue on both
sides. DRIFT.
No enemies.
|
67
|
36
|
Camp on west bank of the river.
|
Feb. 18 – Day 3: 36 miles (13
hours)
|
67
|
0
|
Leave early. DRIFT.
No enemies.
|
88
|
21
|
Trees thin. Gray and overcast.
|
100
|
12
|
Trees disappear. Begin to see withered downs on east at the
north edge
of the Brown Lands. Tall reedy plains on west. Can see west to hills
and mountains.
|
103
|
3
|
Camp in flats north of the Field
of Celebrant.
|
Feb. 19 – Day 4: 60 miles (13
hours)
|
103
|
0
|
Leave early. Feel urgency. Paddle all day.
|
120
|
17
|
River broadens. Continues gray and overcast.
|
143
|
23
|
Reach North Undeep with stony beaches on east – gravel shoals
in the
water: go carefully.
|
150
|
7
|
River Limlight enters on west.
|
152
|
2
|
High wolds of the Brown Lands on east. Downs seen on the west.
|
155
|
3
|
Boromir mutters to himself. Just at dusk, Sam spots Gollum on a log.
|
163
|
8
|
Camp on small eyot near western shore. Sam and Frodo watch.
Gollum
appears during Frodo’s watch. Aragorn wakes. Watches until morning.
|
Feb. 20 – Day/Nt. 5: 72 miles
– Continue through much of the night (18 hours)
|
163
|
0
|
Leave early morning. Paddle long periods. Still overcast, east
wind.
|
170
|
7
|
River curves east. Wolds on both sides.
|
190
|
20
|
River swings south. Still amid high hills.
|
202
|
12
|
North edge of eastern South Undeep.
|
210
|
8
|
Dusk. Continue through much of the night, paddling cautiously.
|
220
|
10
|
Downs on far (east) bank. Hills of the Wold on near bank.
|
222
|
2
|
Reach the north edge of western South Undeep.
|
230
|
8
|
Reach steep north face of south downs, inner ridge – hidden in
the
dark.
|
235
|
5
|
CAMP during DAY (Feb. 21). Downs on both sides of the river.
|
Feb. 21 – Day/Nt. 6: 50 miles
(13 hours)
|
235
|
0
|
Leave at dusk. Paddle cautiously. Sky clears. Sam notices
‘rind’ of the
new Moon.
|
245
|
10
|
North face of outer down ridge.
|
260
|
15
|
Reach lowlands between downs and the Emyn Muil.
|
285
|
25
|
CAMP during DAY (Feb. 22).
|
Feb. 22 – Day/Nt. 7: 50 miles
(13 hours)
|
285
|
0
|
Leave at dusk. Paddle cautiously.
|
290
|
5
|
Banks grow stony. Hills north of the Emyn Muil rise on the
east shore.
|
300
|
10
|
Hills also appear on the west. The river passes through “low
crumbling
cliffs, and chimneys with grey weathered stone dark with ivy.”
|
314
|
14
|
They reach the higher Emyn Muil.
|
335
|
21
|
Camp on west shore (Feb. 23). Many birds circle during the day.
|
Feb. 23 – Day /Nt. 8: 12
miles (3.5 - 4 hours)
|
335
|
0
|
Late in day Legolas sees eagle. Wait to full dark to leave
(8:30 p.m.).
Go slowly.
|
347
|
12
|
Midnight. Sam hears racing water. North edge of the rapids of Sarn
Gebir. ORC ATTACK. Reach western shore. Legolas shoots a
Nazgul’s flying beast. Move upstream to a small shallow bay. Huddle
in boats rest of the night.
|
Feb. 24 – Day 9: 2 miles
|
349
|
2
|
Foggy. Carry boats and packs to foot of rapids – 2 trips. Camp
by pool
that night.
|
Feb. 25 – Day 10: 40 miles (9+
hours)
|
349
|
0
|
Leave at full light (ca. 7:30 a.m.).
|
358
|
9
|
Brief, heavy rain.
|
360
|
2
|
They are in a wide ravine, with great rocky sides, and a few
trees.
|
364
|
4
|
Channel grows narrower and the River swifter.
|
368
|
4
|
The Argonath. Boats
are swept through the narrow gap between.
|
369
|
1
|
Chasm of the Gates bends slightly to the west.
|
370
|
1
|
Pass out of the chasm into the lake: Nen Hithoel. (ca. 2 p.m.).
|
373
|
3
|
Rest in boats and eat. Then paddle on.
|
386
|
13
|
Aragorn leads them toward the west bank.
|
389
|
3
|
Reach the lawn of Parth Galen below Amon Hen. “Rauros was calling
with a great voice.” Camp there.
|
Feb. 26 – Day 11 – Breaking
of the Fellowship
|
1309 Miles = Cumulative
Journey thus far - Bag End to Rauros
|