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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.
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920
Miles = Cumulative Journey thus far: Bag End to Lothlórien
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Cumulative
Miles
for
Walk
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Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
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Location/description at the
Milepost.
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Feb. 16 – Day 1: 31 miles
(Hike + 7.5 hours on river)
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0
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0
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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.
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10
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10
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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.).
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14
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4
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DRIFT. Sweep around a bend, and high banks hide the light of
Lórien.
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24
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10
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Bare woods on both banks. Land is silent. Misty. Dusk comes
early.
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31
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7
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Camp in woods on west bank (ca. 8:30 p.m.). Dreary and cold.
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Feb. 17 – Day 2: 36 miles (13
hours)
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31
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0
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Leave early (ca. 7:30 a.m.). Bare trees continue on both
sides. DRIFT.
No enemies.
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67
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36
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Camp on west bank of the river.
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Feb. 18 – Day 3: 36 miles (13
hours)
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67
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0
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Leave early. DRIFT.
No enemies.
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88
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21
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Trees thin. Gray and overcast.
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100
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12
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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.
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103
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3
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Camp in flats north of the Field
of Celebrant.
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Feb. 19 – Day 4: 60 miles (13
hours)
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103
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0
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Leave early. Feel urgency. Paddle all day.
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120
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17
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River broadens. Continues gray and overcast.
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143
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23
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Reach North Undeep with stony beaches on east – gravel shoals
in the
water: go carefully.
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150
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7
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River Limlight enters on west.
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152
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2
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High wolds of the Brown Lands on east. Downs seen on the west.
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155
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3
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Boromir mutters to himself. Just at dusk, Sam spots Gollum on a log.
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163
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8
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Camp on small eyot near western shore. Sam and Frodo watch.
Gollum
appears during Frodo’s watch. Aragorn wakes. Watches until morning.
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Feb. 20 – Day/Nt. 5: 72 miles
– Continue through much of the night (18 hours)
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163
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0
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Leave early morning. Paddle long periods. Still overcast, east
wind.
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170
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7
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River curves east. Wolds on both sides.
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190
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20
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River swings south. Still amid high hills.
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202
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12
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North edge of eastern South Undeep.
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210
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8
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Dusk. Continue through much of the night, paddling cautiously.
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220
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10
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Downs on far (east) bank. Hills of the Wold on near bank.
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222
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2
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Reach the north edge of western South Undeep.
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230
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8
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Reach steep north face of south downs, inner ridge – hidden in
the
dark.
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235
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5
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CAMP during DAY (Feb. 21). Downs on both sides of the river.
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Feb. 21 – Day/Nt. 6: 50 miles
(13 hours)
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235
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0
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Leave at dusk. Paddle cautiously. Sky clears. Sam notices
‘rind’ of the
new Moon.
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245
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10
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North face of outer down ridge.
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260
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15
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Reach lowlands between downs and the Emyn Muil.
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285
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25
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CAMP during DAY (Feb. 22).
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Feb. 22 – Day/Nt. 7: 50 miles
(13 hours)
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285
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0
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Leave at dusk. Paddle cautiously.
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290
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5
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Banks grow stony. Hills north of the Emyn Muil rise on the
east shore.
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300
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10
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Hills also appear on the west. The river passes through “low
crumbling
cliffs, and chimneys with grey weathered stone dark with ivy.”
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314
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14
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They reach the higher Emyn Muil.
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335
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21
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Camp on west shore (Feb. 23). Many birds circle during the day.
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Feb. 23 – Day /Nt. 8: 12
miles (3.5 - 4 hours)
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335
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0
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Late in day Legolas sees eagle. Wait to full dark to leave
(8:30 p.m.).
Go slowly.
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347
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12
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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.
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Feb. 24 – Day 9: 2 miles
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349
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2
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Foggy. Carry boats and packs to foot of rapids – 2 trips. Camp
by pool
that night.
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Feb. 25 – Day 10: 40 miles (9+
hours)
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349
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0
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Leave at full light (ca. 7:30 a.m.).
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358
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9
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Brief, heavy rain.
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360
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2
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They are in a wide ravine, with great rocky sides, and a few
trees.
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364
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4
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Channel grows narrower and the River swifter.
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368
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4
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The Argonath. Boats
are swept through the narrow gap between.
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369
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1
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Chasm of the Gates bends slightly to the west.
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370
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1
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Pass out of the chasm into the lake: Nen Hithoel. (ca. 2 p.m.).
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373
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3
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Rest in boats and eat. Then paddle on.
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386
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13
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Aragorn leads them toward the west bank.
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389
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3
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Reach the lawn of Parth Galen below Amon Hen. “Rauros was calling
with a great voice.” Camp there.
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Feb. 26 – Day 11 – Breaking
of the Fellowship
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1309 Miles = Cumulative
Journey thus far - Bag End to Rauros
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