Home
Rivendell to Lonely Mountain

Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and Descriptions


THE HOBBIT: Rivendell to the Lonely Mountain (570 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.

Midyear’s Day – Day 1: 4 miles

4

4

Leave Rivendell, camp in foothills - Ponies.

2 Lithe – Day 2: 4 miles

8

4

Still in foothills - Ponies.

July 1-15 – Day 3-17: 4 miles per day = 68 miles

68

4/d.

Climbing steadily - Ponies. 4 miles per day

July 16 – Day 18: 4 miles

72

4

Tremendous Thunder-battle in afternoon. Shelter in a cave. Goblins capture them.

July 17/18/19 – Nt/Day/Nt/Day 19/20/a.m.21: 26 miles

77

5

Thorin questioned in Great Goblin’s Cavern. Gandalf rescues them.

79

2

Company pauses. Gandalf makes light. Dwarves carry Bilbo.

85

6

Gandalf and Thorin fight off Goblins.

97

12

Goblins Attack.

98

1

End of Goblin attack. In rush, Bilbo accidentally left behind.

Bonus Miles

9 Miles - Dwarves reach Lower Goblin-gate (‘Back Door’).

Bilbo Continues Alone: 11 miles

98

0

Bilbo wakes in the dark and realizes he is alone. Begins crawling along.

99

1

Bilbo, while crawling, finds the ONE RING. Pulling out his sword for light, he begins trotting along passage.

106.5

7.5

Bilbo unknowingly passes passage to ‘Back Door’

107.5

1

Bilbo reaches Gollum’s Lake. Riddle Contest.

108

0.5

Bilbo follows Gollum back up passage. Side passages begin to appear.

108.5

0.5

Gollum blocks entrance to tunnel to Back Door. Bilbo jumps over him.

109

0.5

Bilbo reaches the ‘Back Door’ and escapes.

Continuing July 19 – Day 21: 41 miles

109

0

Goblins follow Bilbo a short distance into the upland valley.

117

8

Bilbo leaves upland valley on trail with cliff on left, drop-off on right.

121

4

Bilbo finds Dwarves and Gandalf in dell below trail. They continue on.

125

4

Cross a stream (based on atlas map).

129

4

Trail leads to top of a landslide. They slip sideways in the stones.

130

1

Reach the bottom of the landslide and go east. Pine forest (ca. 7 p.m.).

138

8

Clearing. Hear wolves. Climb trees. WARG ATTACK. Eagles Rescue.

150

12

Eagles take Company to their Eyrie. Sleep there.

July 20 – Day 22: 58 miles

202

52

Eagles fly Company to The Carrock.

208

6

Company reaches Beorn’s house.

July 21 – Day 23 – Remain at Beorn’s.

July 22 – Day 24: 9 miles

208

0

Leave Beorn’s in early afternoon (on ponies). Ride north.

217

9

Camp.

July 23 – Day 25: 20 miles

237

20

Ride through grasslands west of Mirkwood.

July 24 – Day 26: 25 miles

252

25

Bright, fair, chill fall-like mist. Bilbo sees Beorn. Press on under moon.

July 25 – Day 27: 18 miles

270

18

Start before dawn. Land slopes up as they near the forest. Reach trees in afternoon. Camp.

July 26 – Day 28 (Day 1 in Mirkwood): 8 miles

270

0

Gandalf warns Company not to leave the trail. Gandalf departs and takes ponies back to Beorn. Company takes Forest Trail.

278

8

First camp.

J. 27-A.15 – Day 29-47 (Days 2-20 in Mirkwood): 7 miles/day = 133 miles

278-411

7 mi. /day

On Forest Trail in Mirkwood.

Aug. 16 – Day 48 (Day 21 in Mirkwood): 5 miles

413

2

After 143 miles on Forest Trail, reach the Enchanted River. Cross by boat. Bombur falls in water and immediately falls asleep and must be carried.

416

3

Camp.

Aug. 17 – Day 49 (Day 22 in Mirkwood): 6 miles

422

6

On Forest Trail.

Aug. 18 – Day 50 (Day 23 in Mirkwood): 6 miles

428

6

On Forest Trail.

Aug. 19 – Day 51 (Day 24 in Mirkwood): 6 miles

434

6

Walk through open beech-woods much of the day.

Aug. 20 – Day 52 (Day 25 in Mirkwood): 6 miles

438

 4

Bilbo climbs a tree (in an oak-wood), but can see nothing as it is in bottom of a bowl.

440

2

Camp. Eat last of food at supper.

Aug. 21 – Day 53 (Day 26 in Mirkwood): 7 miles

440

0

Bombur awakes in morning. Rains all day. No food.

446

6

About to camp when see a fire. LEAVE PATH.

446.5

0.5

Reach first Elves’ fire. Lights put out. Frantically search for each other.

447

0.5

Reach second Elves’ fire. Lights put out again. Stay huddled together.

Aug. 22 – Day 54 (Day 27 in Mirkwood): 4 miles

447

0

Predawn – See third Elves’ fire.

447.5

0.5

Lights put out. Thorin captured by Elves. Dwarves scatter and are captured by spiders. Bilbo left alone. Kills spider. Swoons. Wakes during the morning and names his sword: Sting.

449

1.5

Bilbo finds dwarves cocooned and rescues them.

450

1

Bilbo draws spiders away. Dwarves almost recaptured. Bilbo returns.

451

1

After more fighting against spiders, spiders give up. Camp there.

Aug. 23 – Day 55 (Day 28 in Mirkwood): 7 miles

456

5

Struggle on all day. Dwarves surrender when surrounded by Elves. Bilbo uses ring and disappears.

458

2

Dwarves imprisoned in Elvenking Thranduil’s Caverns. Bilbo follows.

Aug. 24-Sept. 6 – Day 56-68 Thranduil’s Caverns.

Bonus Miles

Bilbo searches out each Dwarf’s cell.

Sept. 7 – Day 69

Bonus Miles

Bilbo finds Thorin’s cell.

Sept. 8-20 – Day 70-82

Bonus Miles

Bilbo ponders escape plan. Learns about barrels in cellars: Sept. 20.

Sept. 21 – Day 83: 14 miles

458

0

Escape in barrels in afternoon. Float down the Forest River.

460

2

Leave trees of Mirkwood.

472

12

Dusk - Reach huts of the Raft-elves. Dwarves still in barrels. Bilbo huddles nearby wearing Ring.

Sept. 22 – Day 84: 32 miles

472

0

Bilbo’s 50th Birthday. Wood-elves tie barrels into raft. Bilbo rides (invisible).

482

10

Reach marshy area. Bilbo sees the Lonely Mountain.

502

20

End of the marshes. River rushes along.

504

2

Reach Lake-town after sunset. Bilbo frees dwarves. They enter the town.

S. 23-Oct.8 – Day 85-100 Stay in Lake-town (Oct. 6 - Thorin requests supplies).

Oct. 9 – Day 101: 5 miles

504

0

Leave Lake-town in three boats.

509

5

Camp at the mouth of the River Running.

Oct. 10 – Day 102: 5 miles

514

5

Row upstream against current. Camp.

Oct. 11 – Day 103: 5 miles

519

5

Third day in boats. Camp on west shore. Met there by ponies and supplies.

Oct. 12 – Day 104: 13 miles

519

0

Head northwest on ponies.

524

5

Reach the Desolation of the Dragon.

532

8

1st Camp - West of the south tip of the west spur of Lonely Mountain.

Oct. 13 – Day 105: 7 miles

539

3.5+3.5

Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Balin scout to River Running and go part way toward the Front Gate.

Oct. 14 – Day 106: 5 miles

544

 5

Move to 2nd camp – In narrower valley due west of the mountain.

Oct. 15-18 – Day 107-110 – Search for the Hidden Door.

Bonus Miles

Bilbo, Fili and Kili find the Hidden Door on Oct. 18.

Oct. 19 – Day 111: 1 mile

545

1

Move to upland bay by Hidden Door = 3rd Camp.

Oct. 20-29 – Day 112-121

545

0

Try to open the Hidden Door.

Oct. 30 – Day 122: 4 miles Durin’s Day!

545

0

Open door at sunset.

549

2+2

Bilbo descends to Smaug’s Cellar, steals cup, returns. Smaug searches ANGRILY.

Nov. 1 – Day 123: 4 miles

551

2

Bilbo returns to Smaug’s Cellar. Riddles.

553

2

After Bilbo returns, company moves into passage. Smaug smashes mountainside, then attacks Lake-town. Bard kills Smaug.

Nov. 2 – Day 124: 9 miles

555

2

Company goes to Smaug’s Cellar. Bilbo finds Arkenstone. Dwarves search hoard.

557.5

2.5

Go through Chamber of Thror.

558

 0.5

Leave via Front Gate of the mountain.

558.5

0.5

Ford stream at the fallen bridge. Take the road into the valley of Dale.

559.5

1

Take a hill path from the road onto the western spur of the mountain.

561

1.5

Path reaches steep drop-off.

562

1

Path ends at Guard-post. 4th Camp.

Nov. 3 – Day 125: 4 miles

566

4

They learn of Smaug’s death and return to Front Gate. Fortify entrance.

Nov. 22 – Day 144: 4 miles

570

2+2

Bilbo goes to Bard’s camp and gives him the Arkenstone. Returns to the gate of the Lonely Mountain.

Nov. 23 – Day 145 – The Battle of Five Armies

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

+570 Miles = The Hobbit: Rivendell to the Lonely Mountain

+________ = Bonus Miles for this leg 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.