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Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and
Descriptions
MINAS TIRITH TO THE MORANNON (138 Miles)
by
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of
Middle-earth
Note:
Gollum tells Frodo that it is 30 leagues (90 miles) from the Black Gate
to the Cross Roads, yet in this chapter
the distance was stated to be “some hundred miles”. This discrepancy
has been addressed by adding the extra
mileage the Host crossed in order to journey west of the road through
the Desolation.
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________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
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Cumulative
Miles
for Leg
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Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
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Location/description at the
Milepost.
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March 16 & 17 – Muster the Host: 7000
Bonus Miles: 66 - Go with the Scouts to/from the Cross-roads
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March 18 – Day 1: 33 miles
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0
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0
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Host assembles before Gates of Minas Tirith. Go ENE through
the Pelennor.
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11
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11
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Pass between Causeway Forts on the Rammas Echor. Follow
Causeway east
across the flatlands of the Anduin valley.
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12
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1
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Reach the western walls of Osgiliath. Pass through “ruins of
Old Gondor.”
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13
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1
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Use ferries and boat-bridges of the enemy to cross the Anduin.
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14
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1
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Continue through ruins of east Osgiliath. Pass new defense
works.
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18
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4
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Infantry halts 5 miles east of the Anduin. Camps by the River
Morgul.
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25
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7
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Horsemen continue up the Morgul-road east. It is straight, but
climbing.
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33
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8
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Reach the Cross-roads
by evening. Heralds proclaim the coming of the
Lords of Gondor. No other sounds. Repair statue of the King. Camp.
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March 19 – Day 2: 0 miles
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Bonus Miles
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16 mi – Gandalf, Aragorn and vanguard ride to Minas Morgul.
Destroy
bridge, then return. Remainder of Host reaches Cross-roads. All camp.
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March 20 – Day 3: 25 miles
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33
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0
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Leave a strong guard at Cross-roads: archers of Ithilien. Rest
of Host moves
north on the road. Send scouts ahead and on each side.
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38
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5
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Heralds proclaim the coming of the Lords of Gondor.
Prince Imrahil
suggests they say “King Elessar.” Weather fair, with west wind.
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41
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3
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Dark thickets rise from the tumbled land below the Ephel Dúath.
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44
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3
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Cross stream on a masonry bridge. Heralds proclaim the coming
of King
Elessar. Rest.
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51
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7
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Cross stream on bridge. Rest.
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58
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7
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar. Camp by
stream.
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March 21 – Day 4: 20 miles
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58
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0
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Cross stream on bridge. Continue north on road.
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64
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6
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar. Cross stream on
bridge.
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68
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4
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar. Weather still
fair.
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72
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4
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Reach south end of long cut through out-thrust arm of the
mountains.
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74
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2
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar.
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78
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4
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Host is attacked by Orcs and Easterlings (same place as
Faramir had defeated
the Haradrim). Well warned by scouts, they easily defeat the attack.
Camp
there by stream. Nazgûl overfly camp.
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March 22 – Day 5: 22 miles
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78
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0
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Cross stream on bridge. Nazgûl continue to overfly.
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82
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4
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar. Cross stream on
bridge.
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89
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7
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar.
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91
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2
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Cross stream on bridge.
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94
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3
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Heralds proclaim the coming of King Elessar.
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100
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6
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Reach the point where the road turns northeast toward the
Black Gate. Camp
west of road, next to a stream.
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March 23 – Day 6: 18 miles
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100
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0
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Swing northwest away from the road.
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102
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2
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Follow a dry stream-bed leading toward the Wetwang.
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104
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2
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Turn northeast, roughly paralleling the road.
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106
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2
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Rest. Reach the desert-like lands west of Mordor. See the
beginnings of the
Desolation of the Morannon.
Aragorn dismisses the faint-hearted.
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109
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3
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Eat. Continue on, slowly.
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118
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9
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Camp.
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March 24 – Day 7: 15 miles
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118
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0
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Continue northeast.
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122
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4
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Pass among the moors of the Noman-lands. Draw together. No
scouts.
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126
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4
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Eat. Rest. Continue on very slowly. Expect attack, but none
comes.
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133
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7
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Camp northwest of the Black Gates. All are wakeful. Sense that
things prowl
around them. No wind. Cold.
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March 25 – Day 8: 5 miles The
Day of Doom
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133
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0
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Dawn. North wind rises. Turn southeast toward the Morannon.
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136
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3
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Pass among slag heaps and noisome pits.
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138
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2
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Early day: reach the Black Gate. Aragorn arrays Host on two
hills of stone.
Parley with the Mouth of Sauron. The
Battle of Morannon. Barad-dûr and
the Morannon collapse when the Ring is destroyed.
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________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
+138 Miles = Minas Tirith to
the Morannon
+________ = Bonus Miles for
this part of the Journey
_________ = Your Personal
Journey thus far
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