Subject: Paging all Tolkien fans with a sense of geography...
Author:
Posted on: 2008-11-17 06:13:00 UTC
How long would it take for someone to ride a horse at a trot from Thranduil's halls to Lake-Town or Dale?
I'm asking this because it's for a fanfic I'm doing, and I was thinking it might take less than a day. But that might rub some people (*coughDOGAcough*) the wrong way.
So...just asking.
Assuming you follow the river (which in the days before SatNav and tarmac roads is the only way to be sure you get there) it's thirty miles or so from the Halls to Esgaroth-on-the-Long-Lake. Apparently a horse's trotting speed is 5-10 mph, which means that's a day's travel or a little less (accounting for terrain, trees, escort, anything you're bringing with you, random spider attacks, and lunch). From Esgaroth, it's then another thirty miles to Dale. Pushing your horse, and/or switching horses at Esgaroth, it's just conceivable you could make the trip in a day. But that's not advisable, and you'd probably make your horse very unhappy. Remember it gets rocky up around Dale, too.
If I had my atlas I could tell you how long the Esgaroth-Dale trip took on ponies. But I don't. Sad.
hS
Would it snow in Mirkwood? Particularly in the Wood-elves' realm?
~Lily, who is just...inquisitive.
*goes to dig out her copy of The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-earth*
Allrightythen. Mirkwood appears to be at the same latitude-type-thing as Eriador and Arnor. I know the south of Eriador doesn't get much snow usually, but the north gets plenty, and by that token I'm assuming Arnor would as well, seeing as it's north of Eriador.
Mirkwood is inland, so it hasn't got the moderating effects of the sea that would generally reduce the amount of snow. Northern Mirkwood, which appears to be the area you're intrested in, has got the Misty Mountains up by its west border and the Grey Mountains on the north border. I think they might also contribute to the amount of snow.
So basically, I think that yes, it would snow in Mirkwood, and definitely around Thranduil's halls. The density of the trees would have to be taken into account- it's not likely that much snow would get through to the ground for the most part, though I seem to remember hearing that the trees thinned out a little around Elven lands, so there might be more snow there.
Hope this helped.
Thanks muchly! *hugs*
About less than a day to Lake-Town, and then maybe spend the night there, starting for Dale the next morning...
Thanks!