Boromir's Journey Length

[JJ48]

A thought occurred to me during Tuesday's class while discussing the claim that Boromir's proposed route could take a year or more. How much of the time would be devoted to getting food? Foraging would be very season-dependent, and could take a long time to gather enough to feed everyone, and hunting or trapping could similarly take a while, especially in preparing the animal afterwards. This would significantly reduce how much time they could actually spend traveling (and thus, how far they could travel) each day, particularly with difficult terrain. I think the same could apply to Boromir's trip north, especially after he lost his horse and would have a reduced capacity to bring extra food with him. All the estimates I've seen of how far people can travel in a day appear to refer to folks who are well provisioned or who can reasonably expect to obtain easy food (e.g. from stores and restaurants). Does anyone have any idea, how much would needing to live off the land slow down travelers on foot?

 

[No One in Particular]

Perhaps he took that many days because Providence wanted him to arrive on the day of the council. It's a bit of a stretch but you can never completely count out the intervention of the Power(s) in any given situation.

 

[Odola]

A thought occurred to me during Tuesday's class while discussing the claim that Boromir's proposed route could take a year or more. How much of the time would be devoted to getting food? Foraging would be very season-dependent, and could take a long time to gather enough to feed everyone, and hunting or trapping could similarly take a while, especially in preparing the animal afterwards. This would significantly reduce how much time they could actually spend traveling (and thus, how far they could travel) each day, particularly with difficult terrain. I think the same could apply to Boromir's trip north, especially after he lost his horse and would have a reduced capacity to bring extra food with him. All the estimates I've seen of how far people can travel in a day appear to refer to folks who are well provisioned or who can reasonably expect to obtain easy food (e.g. from stores and restaurants). Does anyone have any idea, how much would needing to live off the land slow down travelers on foot?

The main point of Boromir's long journey North was finding Rivendell. Usually one cannot find an elvish place if you do not have elvish autorisation. Boromir had no guide akin to Gandalf or Aragorn/ Glorfindel like Bilbo and Frodo had. So no wonder he wandered around untill he was let in finally. The way from Carathras South would go through more inhabited areas. It would be easier to get food not more difficult - if one excludes Lothlorien which is usually closed off to random mortals. And as soon their are in Gondor itself Boromir can get them anything they need with ease. The route South is far easier for the hobbits. Far less obstacles. The slightly longer distance is by far made up by its convenience. And they do not have any due date. They spend a month in Lothlorien. Clearly they are in no hurry at all.

 

[JJ48]

The main point of Boromir's long journey North was finding Rivendell. Usually one cannot find an elvish place if you do not have elvish autorisation. Boromir had no guide akin to Gandalf or Aragorn/ Glorfindel like Bilbo and Frodo had. So no wonder he wandered around untill he was let in finally. The way from Carathras South would go through more inhabited areas. It would be easier to get food not more difficult - if one excludes Lothlorien which is usually closed off to random mortals. And as soon their are in Gondor itself Boromir can get them anything they need with ease. The route South is far easier for the hobbits. Far less obstacles. The slightly longer distance is by far made up by its convenience. And they do not have any due date. They spend a month in Lothlorien. Clearly they are in no hurry at all.

They'd pass through more inhabited areas, but that's not necessarily helpful. Considering that much of the way would involve going through Dunlending territory, and they'd have no idea whether any local group may be an ally or an enemy, they'd have to do their best to avoid attention altogether and bypass towns. This wouldn't really help with their food situation, and could make things slower.

I'd also point out that, while they may not be hurrying, they're not dawdling, either. Yes, they spent a month in Lothlorien, but there's a huge difference between taking a break to rest and recuperate in friendly territory after a grievous loss, and simply adding months of hard travel to an already long trip unnecessarily.

 

[Odola]

They'd pass through more inhabited areas, but that's not necessarily helpful. Considering that much of the way would involve going through Dunlending territory, and they'd have no idea whether any local group may be an ally or an enemy, they'd have to do their best to avoid attention altogether and bypass towns. This wouldn't really help with their food situation, and could make things slower.

They do not have to go to the very centre of Dunland and getting food in random villages should not be a problem. There is the trade route going to North to Bree from the South nearly, the way should be adjusted for random travellers. They are not Rohirrim so rank Dunlendings should let them be. There was not time enough for Saruman to give whole of Dunland an in-depth description of the whole company and Gandalf had not trouble on his way North when fleeing Isengard on Shadowfax. Grima is still in Edoras and not available to stirr up Dunland against them. The Ruffians are in Bree and in Southern Shire.

I'd also point out that, while they may not be hurrying, they're not dawdling, either. Yes, they spent a month in Lothlorien, but there's a huge difference between taking a break to rest and recuperate in friendly territory after a grievous loss, and simply adding months of hard travel to an already long trip unnecessarily.

The couple of extra weeks of the route through Gondor would take would be less than the stay in Lothlorien. And Lothlorien is not a friendly territory in the eyes of Boromir. Mortals do not usually enter there ever - except for Aragorn who is foster-kin. But even though, the fuss that is made at the company's entering the realm and Celeborn's remarks how he would have refused them entry had he known more details proves "friendly territory" is not really what Lothlorien is. And the ring is in danger there untill Galadriel passes her test. So Lothlorien is no less a risk than Minas Tirith.

 

[Flammifer]

Hi JJ48,

Boromir's second proposed route (into the west of Gondor), could indeed have had problems of provisioning and resupply. We don't know how well provisioned the Company was. Nor what plans Boromir might have had for re-supply along that route. Boromir came north through Tharbad, so he may have known of provisioning possibilities near there.

Boromir did not (I think) know of the re-supply opportunity at Lothlorien, if taking the Moria route. I presume, therefore, that he calculates the Company has at least enough provisions to reach Rohan down the east side of the mountains. Though that is considerably less distance than reaching western Gondor.

As far as Boromir's original journey to Imladris. It not only took 110 days, but Boromir also says, "A long and wearisome journey. Four hundred leagues I reckoned it, and it took me many months."

While there are many circumstances which might slow Boromir's journey, such as having to hunt and forage, as you suggest, these are very unlikely to extend the distance traveled to 400 leagues (1,200 miles).

My favorite speculation as to why Boromir took 110 days and covered 400 leagues on the trip to Rivendell is that he did not know where Imladris was, but theorized that it was in the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin). This theory could have been based on old accounts of Cirdan (a great loremaster). Especially from records of Prince (later King) Earnur's expedition from Gondor to Lindon, to defeat the Witch King at the Battle of Fornost).

Reports from that expedition might have been the most recent chronicles and maps of Eriador available to Boromir in Minas Tirith. If that was his most detailed information, it is easy to see how he might have guessed from his father's words, "Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale," that that dale was probably in the Ered Luin.

Travelling from Tharbad, via Sarn Ford, across the Shire, thence to the Ered Luin, before learning where Imladris really was, would fit very well with a journey of 110 days and 400 leagues.