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Isengard to Minas Tirith - Aragorn's Path

Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and Descriptions


ISENGARD TO MINAS TIRITH: Aragorn’s Path (786 Miles)


by Karen Wynn Fonstad


Author of The Atlas of Middle-earth


The mileage in this chart differs from that of The Atlas of Middle-earth between Helm’s Deep and Edoras
as a result of re-comparison of this journey with that of Gandalf from Isengard to Minas Tirith.

________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 prepares to ride out at once with Pippin. When a Nazgûl rides over, he warns Théoden not to wait for dawn to leave.

Mar. 6 – Nt./Day/Nt. 2: 96 miles

17

0

Aragorn and Merry, Legolas and Gimli ride out with Théoden, Éomer and 20 Riders (ca. midnight).

18

1

Return to the highway and turn south.

33

15

Company crosses the Fords of Isen.

35

2

They are overtaken by the Grey Company: Halbarad Dúnadan and 30 rangers of the North (summoned by Galadriel), plus Elrond’s sons: Elladan and Elrohir. Moon is westering, but shines out through clouds.

48

13

Reach the road to the Deeping Coomb and turn south to Helm’s Deep.

54

6

Climb upward through the Coomb.

57.5

3.5

Pass through Helm’s Dike.

58

0.5

Reach Helm’s Deep (ca. 6 a.m.). Enter the Hornburg. REST. Late morning Legolas and Gimli show Merry around the Deep. They lunch with Théoden and Riders. Aragorn confronts Sauron in the palantír and learns of the Black Fleet of Umbar. After consulting with Théoden, he decides to take the open road and ride for the Paths of the Dead. Merry rides with Rohirrim (1 p.m.). Aragorn eats, then departs (1:30 p.m.).

58.5

0.5

Pass through Helm’s Dike. Ride swiftly down the Deeping Coomb.

68

9.5

Reach the beaten road from the Ford of Isen and turn east to Edoras.

90

22

Cross a small stream. Dusk.

100

10

Cross a small stream.

113

13

Cross a small stream. Camp (ca. 9:30 p.m.).

Mar. 7 – Day 3: 85 miles

113

0

Leave at dawn.

120

7

Cross a small stream.

129

9

Cross a small stream.

140

11

Cross a small stream.

153

13

Cross a small stream. Brief stop. Eat.

176

23

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

177

1

Climb to Meduseld in Edoras. Brief stop.

178

1

Return to the Ford. Turn south into Harrowdale.

186

8

Hamlet of Upbourn.

192

6

Hamlet of Underharrow. Peaks of Irensaga are high above.

196

4

Opposite the waterfalls from the western ravine.

196.5

0.5

Reach the trail from the western ravine. Road turns east to the Hold.

197

0.5

Climb the switchback road ‘Stair of the Hold’ some hundreds of feet up the mountain face. Ancient statues mark each turn of the road: the Púkel-men. A last cutting climbs a short slope. Dusk.

198

1

Reach the Firienfeld of Dunharrow. Aragorn tells Éowyn of his plans.

Mar. 8 – Day 4: 60 miles

198

0

Aragorn and company head east to the Dwimorberg, following the path lined with standing stones (ca. 6 a.m.).

200

2

They pass into the gloom of the dark woods of the Dimholt. See a last mighty standing stone. Horses refuse to pass and must be led.

200.7

0.7

They pass the Dark Door into the Haunted Mountain, still leading the horses: the Paths of the Dead.

202

1.3

In a cavern they see Baldor’s skeleton by a closed stone door. Aragorn summons the Dead. The torches are blown out.

204

2

Gimli is the last of the Living. He goes in fear. The Dead follow.

225

21

Gimli stumbles and falls. Crawls.

227

2

The sound of water begins to be heard – the springs of the River Morthond: the Blackroot.

228

1

Exit the Paths of the Dead through a high-arched broad opening. Remount horses (ca. 4 p.m.).

230

2

A steep road descends through the deep ravine. The river is on the left.

232

2

Evening falls.

234

2

Ravine ends like “a crack in a wall.” The river pours over many falls. Reach the wide Morthond Vale (ca. 7 p.m.). See lights in houses below.

236

2

Cross a bridge over the torrent and follow a road east into the Vale.

244

8

As reach houses, all lights are put out. Bells are ringing in warning.

248

4

River turns southwest, further away from the road.

257

9

Reach the foot of the Hill of Erech.

258

1

Aragorn climbs to the Stone of Erech. Arrives just before midnight. The stone is a great globe half buried in the ground, but the height of a man. Aragorn’s great banner is unfurled and he speaks with the Dead. Camp.

Mar. 9 – Day 5: 110 miles (Ride swiftly: 7 mph)

258

0

Dawn. Ride from Erech in great haste, southeast down the road.

274

16

Pass through the most northeasterly lands of Morthond – home of 500 bowmen who have gone to Minas Tirith with Duinhir and his sons.

290

16

Road runs between hills on both sides: Tarlang’s Neck.

300

10

Enter Lamedon – home of a few grim hillmen who have gone to Minas Tirith without a captain. As they reach the uplands, the Dead sweep past, but Aragorn orders them back. Stop to eat: Noon.

310

10

Road drops slowly into the lowlands.

320

10

The road continues to curve through a lowland between the Hills of Tarlang on the west and an outlying spur of the White Mountains on the north.

330

10

Hills of Tarlang curve east and thrust closer to the road.

340

10

To the east the River Ciril meanders through the meads.

344

4

Dusk. Eat, then ride on.

350

6

The Hills of Tarlang end and the vale of the River Ringló opens to the southwest. The Hills of Tarnost rise ahead in the southeast.

360

10

The road turns more east toward the River Ciril.

367

7

The fords of Ciril. A red sunset can be seen far in the west lighting the tops of the Pinnath Gelin (Green Hills).

368

1

Camp just past the ford (ca. 9:30 p.m.). Farms of the Township of Calembel are deserted – many gone to war; the rest, fled.

Mar. 10 – Day 6 THE DAWNLESS DAY: 90 miles (Ride swiftly: 7 mph)

368

0

No dawn. Leave when gloom first lightens.

370

2

Pass the village of Calembel.

380

10

Towering hills rise on the north. To the south the Ciril joins the Ringló.

390

10

A valley opens on the north stretching to the foot of Halifirien mount.

400

10

A great southern spur of the White Mountains rises just ten miles north. To the south are the Hills of Tarnost.

410

10

Noon.

414

4

They ford the Ringló at Ethring. Stop briefly to eat.

420

6

Road rises slightly and curves due south as it is barred on the east by a great arm of the mountains, jutting down from the mount of Rimmon.

430

10

Road climbs a slope at the very end of the mountain arm.

440

10

Beyond the rise of the crest, they descend into some of the richest lands thus far: Dor-en-Ernil (Land of the Prince) – the most eastern lands under Prince Imrahil.

458

18

Past dusk. Camp in the midst of the open valley.

Mar. 11 – Day 7: 70 miles (Ride swiftly: 7 mph)

458

0

No dawn. Leave at first light.

480

22

The lands open out, almost flat all the way to the Great River Anduin.

500

20

Noon. Eat.

510

10

They drop into coastal lowlands as they near the estuary of the Gilrain.

518

8

A low terrace appears east of the road, damming a small lake above.

522

4

Reach the outskirts of the town of Linhir.

524

2

At the fords where the Gilrain and the Serni join, they find Men of Lamedon fighting off ships of Umbar and Harad (ca. 3:30 p.m.). All flee from the Dead except Angbor of Lamedon, whom Aragorn bids follow.

528

4

Camp east of the fords.

Mar. 12 – Day 8: 70 miles Drive the enemy ahead

528

0

No dawn. Road now curves east. The terrace face rises on the north as the company rides forth.

532

4

The River Serni cuts through the terrace face and flows west.

544

12

All this area is already contested. The enemy flies east before them.

560

16

Road swings more to the northeast.

570

10

The fabled ‘green fields of Lebennin’ appear grey and trampled.

580

10

Road parallels the course of the Anduin, 15 miles away.

598

18

Camp again.

Mar. 13 – Day 9: 35 miles

598

0

Leave at first light.

610

12

Road begins to swing toward the Great River.

620

10

The enemy are still being driven ahead, but are getting desperate as they near the river.

630

10

Cross the River Sirith. Reach the Pelargir. Legolas hears the cries of gulls.

633

3

Noon. At the Havens of Pelargir is the Fleet of Umbar: 50 great ships and numerous smaller vessels. The Haradrim turn to fight. Aragorn calls forth the Dead. The Battle of Pelargir. The mariners cast themselves overboard in fear. Aragorn drives through the enemies on shore. The Dead depart after Aragorn declares their oaths fulfilled. Freed captives and the host from that part of Gondor gather and prepare the ships.

Mar. 14 – Day 10: 85 miles (Row: 4.7 mph)

633

0

Fleet goes north at first light. No wind. Row against the current.

656

23

Pass between the fields of Lebennin on the west and South Ithilien on east.

676

20

Legolas senses the change in the wind.

689

13

Night falls. Due north a red glow can be seen under the cloud – Minas Tirith is burning.

708

19

River Erui enters on the west.

718

10

Midnight. Continue upriver. Sea-crafty men sense wind from the sea.

Mar. 15 – Day 11: 68 miles (Sail: 7.2 mph)

730

12

Hoist sail. Speed grows.

740

10

River curves west toward Minas Tirith.

750

10

The lands of Lossarnach are on the west. Many folk live there under the kindly rule of Furlong the Fat.

760

10

Dawn. Clouds lighten.

764

4

The southern slopes of the Emyn Arnen appear on the eastern shore.

780

16

River swings northeast as it rounds the ‘knee’ of the Emyn Arnen.

783

3

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields has been raging since dawn and Éomer sees the black ships arriving at Harlond: the havens southeast of the city (9 a.m.). On the lead ship Aragorn’s banner is unfurled: the White Tree, seven stars, and golden crown – signs of Elendil. Aragorn leads his forces onto the field of battle. Winds blow away the darkness.

784.5

1.5

Aragorn and Éomer meet in the midst of battle.

Bonus Miles

Continue the struggle throughout the day.

786

1.5

Aragorn reaches the Gates of Minas Tirith at dusk with Éomer and Imrahil. He bids his tents be raised on the field outside the Gates.

Bonus Miles

Aragorn climbs to the Houses of Healing, heals Faramir, Éowyn, Merry, many others – then returns to his tents (3.1 mi. to/from Gates).

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

+786 Miles = Isengard to Minas Tirith: Aragorn’s Path

+________ = Bonus Miles for this part of the Journey

_________ = Your Personal Journey thus far

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