Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and
Descriptions
RIVENDELL TO LOTHLÓRIEN (462 Miles)
by
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of
Middle-earth
|
458 Miles = Cumulative
Journey thus far: Bag End to Rivendell
|
Cumulative
Miles
for
Leg
|
Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
|
Location/description at the
Milepost.
|
Dec. 25/26 – Nt. 1: 22 miles
- The Journey of the Fellowship of the Ring Begins
|
0
|
0
|
Leave Rivendell at
dusk on Dec. 25.
|
1
|
1
|
Climb out of the valley onto the moors.
|
8
|
7
|
At the Ford of Brúinen, turn south on ‘narrow paths among
folded lands’.
|
18
|
10
|
To the west the Bruinen cuts a steep-sided canyon.
|
22
|
4
|
Walk until dawn. Camp during the day - Dec. 26.
|
Dec. 26/27 – Nt. 2: 15 miles
|
22-25
|
0-3
|
Empty country - rough and barren.
|
26
|
1
|
Cross a small stream.
|
27-36
|
1-10
|
Empty country - rough and barren.
|
37
|
1
|
Camp in a hollow during the day - Dec. 27.
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Dec. 27/28 – Nt. 3: 15 miles
|
46
|
9
|
Crest the top of a hill. Snowcapped peak lies due east.
|
52
|
6
|
Cold and windy. Camp
during the day - Dec. 28.
|
Dec. 28/29 – Nt. 4: 15 miles
|
58
|
6
|
Reach a small stream. Follow it west.
|
60
|
2
|
Leave streambed.
|
67
|
7
|
Paths few and winding. Camp during the day - Dec. 29.
|
Dec. 29/30 – Nt. 5: 15 miles
|
70
|
3
|
After reaching the top of a rise, angle southeast.
|
82
|
12
|
Camp in a thicket of thorn bushes during the day - Dec. 30.
|
D. 30/1 Yule – Nt. 6: 15 miles
|
86
|
4
|
Reach crest of another low mountain spur. Turn southwest as
they descend.
|
90
|
4
|
Path comes to a steep drop-off. Go along cliff-top for a while
|
97
|
7
|
Camp during the day - 1 Yule.
|
1 Yule/2 Yule – Nt. 7: 15
miles
|
102
|
5
|
Cross a small stream.
|
112
|
10
|
Camp during the day - 2 Yule.
|
2 Yule/Jan. 1 – Nt. 8: 15
miles
|
120
|
8
|
Another snowcapped peak lies to the east.
|
127
|
7
|
Camp during the day - Jan.1.
|
Jan. 1/J. 2 – Nt. 9: 15 miles
|
130
|
3
|
Cross a small stream. It flows west into a swampy area.
|
142
|
12
|
Camp during the day - Jan. 2. Continues cold, gray and windy.
|
Jan. 2/J. 7 – Nt. 10-14: 15
miles/day = 75 miles - Continues cold, gray and windy.
|
150
|
8
|
After reaching a hilltop, turn southeast.
|
157
|
7
|
Camp during the day - Jan. 3.
|
169
|
12
|
Cross a small stream.
|
172
|
3
|
Camp during the day - Jan. 4.
|
180
|
8
|
Rolling lands.
|
187
|
7
|
Camp during the day - Jan. 5.
|
202
|
15
|
Camp during the day - Jan. 6.
|
210
|
8
|
Land drops more steeply. Go southeast into a valley.
|
217
|
7
|
Cross a small stream. Camp during the day - Jan. 7.
|
Jan. 7/J. 8 – Nt. 15: 15 miles
|
220
|
3
|
Weather warmer and sunny. Can see Mts. of Moria in distance.
Eerily quiet.
|
228
|
8
|
Begin climb up north side of Hollin Ridge.
|
232
|
4
|
Reach Hollin Ridge.
Large holly trees mark ridge. Day camp on Hollin
Ridge. They plan to stay overnight, but after the crebain fly
over, they leave
at dusk.
|
Jan. 8/J. 9 – Nt. 16: 18 miles
|
233
|
1
|
Soon strike a good path that goes southeast toward the
mountain pass. Path is
lined with stones. Full moon.
|
248
|
15
|
Frodo and Gandalf sense something flying over just before dawn.
|
250
|
2
|
Cross a small stream. Camp during day of Jan. 9. Sunny, but
colder.
|
Jan. 9/J. 10 – Nt. 17: 17
miles
|
252
|
2
|
Road begins climbing as it winds into the hills. Mountains are
closer.
|
267
|
15
|
Camp during day of Jan. 10.
|
Jan. 10/J. 11 – Nt. 18: 17
miles
|
275
|
8
|
Road climbs still higher.
|
284
|
9
|
Almost to the feet of the Redhorn. Camp during day of Jan. 11.
Gandalf and
Aragorn debate path. Wind turns NW. Black clouds form during afternoon.
|
Jan. 11 – Nt. 19: 8 miles
|
284
|
0
|
Leave camp at dusk. (ca. 5 p.m.). Fearing snow, each takes
wood along.
|
286
|
2
|
Path is fairly smooth. They make good time.
|
288
|
2
|
Path becomes more steep and is dotted with fallen stones.
|
290
|
2
|
Path climbs a sharp slope: cliff on left, drop-off on right.
Begins to snow as
reach a ‘shelf’ at the top of the slope.
|
291
|
1
|
Snow begins to fall more thickly.
|
291.5
|
0.5
|
They stop briefly. Wind slackens. Snow lessens. Start again
(ca. 8 p.m.).
|
292
|
0.5
|
Redhorn Pass. Snow
becomes even heavier. Wind howls. Decide they can go
no further. All huddle against the south-facing cliff, some behind Bill
the
Pony. Build fire. Stay until dawn.
|
Jan. 12 – Day 20: 28 miles
|
292
|
0
|
Aragorn and Boromir start down, plowing through the snow.
|
292.5
|
0.5
|
Fellowship reaches great drift of snow. Clouds begin to break.
|
293
|
0.5
|
Snow steadily more shallow.
|
294
|
1
|
Back to shelf of stone ... no more snow (ca. 10:30 a.m.).
|
296
|
2
|
Turn west, away from path they took up to the Pass. Crebain
return.
|
310
|
14
|
Turn more southwest around foothills of the Silvertine.
|
320
|
10
|
Stop to eat (ca.6 p.m.), camp, and debate. Cold wind. Hear
Wargs! Climb to
top of the hill above them. Enter a ring of stones with gnarled trees
within.
Wargs gather. Attack just
before dawn.
|
Jan. 13 – Day 21: 20 miles
|
320
|
0
|
Leave ca. 8 a.m. Head south-southeast toward the Sirannon.
|
325
|
5
|
A barren country of red stones.
|
330
|
5
|
Reach the Sirannon (ca. 11 a.m.). Dry. Head east on a path
along stream.
|
332
|
2
|
Path lies in a deep trough. It is a rough, winding track.
|
334
|
2
|
Stop to EAT quickly (ca. 12:30 - 1 p.m.).
|
338.5
|
4.5
|
Fall of the Sirannon: Frodo, Gimli and Gandalf climb stairs to
upland valley;
return.
|
339
|
0.5
|
Climb curving road to upland valley. Most is filled with a
lake.
|
339.3
|
0.3
|
Wade through stream at north end of lake.
|
340
|
0.7
|
Reach the Doors of Moria.
(ca. 6 p.m.). Release Bill. Spend ca. ½ hour at
Gate seeking the password. ATTACK by the Watcher in the Water.
|
Continuing Jan. 13: 20 miles
|
340
|
0
|
Stop just inside Moria to eat and rest briefly. Leave ca. 7
p.m.
|
343
|
3
|
Frodo begins to hear Gollum’s pattering footsteps.
|
346
|
3
|
Stop to decide which path; brief halt.
|
350
|
4
|
Have to jump narrow fissure.
|
353
|
3
|
Have to jump 7 foot fissure; brief halt.
|
360
|
7
|
Reach junction of 3 passages, with Guardroom (ca. 1 a.m.).
CAMP.
|
Jan. 14 – Day 22: 20 miles
|
360
|
0
|
Leave Guardroom (ca. 8 a.m.). Take right hand passage.
|
365
|
5
|
Road climbs in great mounting curves with no side passages.
(Est.) break.
|
370
|
5
|
(Est.) lunch and rest.
|
375
|
5
|
(Est.) break.
|
380
|
5
|
Reach the 21st Hall of the North End. Camp
overnight.
|
Jan. 15 – Day 23 - 18 miles
|
380
|
0
|
(ca. 8 a.m.) Eat. Enter Chamber of Records nearby. Find
Balin’s Tomb.
ATTACK - orcs and cave troll. Escape through east door of room.
|
381
|
1
|
After descending 7 flights of stairs, REST.
|
381.3
|
0.3
|
Reach the 1st Deep. Fire blocks them from Orcs.
Cross Bridge over Durin’s
Deep. Balrog attacks. Gandalf and
Balrog fall.
|
381.5
|
0.2
|
Rest escape up flight of steps, and out East Gate. Orcs flee.
(ca.1 p.m.).
|
Continuing Jan. 15 - Outside
Moria
|
382
|
0.5
|
STOP to vent grief. Then continue down rough, winding trail.
|
383.5
|
1.5
|
Durin’s Stone and Mirrormere. Stop briefly, then continue
south on road.
|
384
|
0.5
|
Pause at the spring of the Silverlode.
|
390
|
6
|
Frodo and Sam lag behind. Aragorn and Boromir carry them to a
dell nearby.
Eat and rest (ca. 3 to 4 p.m.).
|
393
|
3
|
Dusk (ca. 5 p.m.).
|
396
|
3
|
Frodo begins to hear Gollum again, and sees glowing eyes.
|
397
|
1
|
Enter woods of Lothlórien.
|
398
|
1
|
Cross the Nimrodel. Go west upstream a short distance. Meet
elves. Sleep on
flets in the trees. Orc company passes during the night.
Gollum appears
briefly.
|
Jan. 16 – Day 24: 32 miles
|
398
|
0
|
Start about 8 a.m. Clear and cold “like a cool summer day.”
Follow path
south beside the Silverlode.
|
403
|
5
|
Cross the Silverlode on ropes. Fellowship is blindfolded.
Frodo notices paths
are smooth, and he smells the trees and grass.
|
423
|
20
|
Pass through an open glade.
|
430
|
7
|
CAMP - Sleep on the ground. Still blindfolded.
|
Jan. 17 – Day 26: 32 miles
|
430
|
0
|
Continue on path.
|
448
|
18
|
Noon - In a clearing, meet an elf-company. Blindfolds are
removed.Climb to
the top of the hill of Cerin Amroth. Can see all around. Stay
there ca. 2 hours.
|
456
|
8
|
Elves light lanterns (ca. 5:30 p.m.).
|
458
|
2
|
Reach the north side of Caras Galadan. Early stars are
out (ca. 6:10 p.m.).
|
462
|
4
|
Reach Gates of Caras Galadan (south side) and climb to
meet Celeborn and
Galadriel. Stay in Lothlórien
until February 16.
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920 Miles = Cumulative
Journey thus far - Bag End to Lothlórien
|