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
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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
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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
|