How big were the Paths of the Dead?

[The Barrow-Wight]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wraith of Angmar
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The Paths of the Dead led from a cliff face north of the White mountains to a deep valley on the south side. About how long do you think these paths were (perhaps it is stated somewhere?)?

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
<font size="2">I usually haunt http://www.barrowdowns.comThe Barrow-Downs</a> and The Barrow-Downs http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgiMiddle-Earth Discussion Board</a>.</p>

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newly Deceased
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Let's see...

Let us see if I can deduct reasoning to find a solution to your trivial question. The pathways of the dead... and how large they are. Hm. Well, lots of people die all the time, whether drunkards who inadvertently POed a class A sword fighter, or some poor guy who couldn't swim attempted to ford the Brandywine, to the age-old old age cause of death. Now, supposing this pathway was to be used by these people, and supposing, as indicated above, that there were many people using this pathway, reguardless of how small you intend it to be, the mere congestion of dead souls would be enough to wear a larger path out of it. Let me explain, say you blaze a trail through your forested backyard as a shortcut to your place of occupation. And lets say it is so short and &quot;convenient&quot; that you continue to take this trail. Now after a time, you will begin to wear away any vegetation that your feet happen to trod, thus creating a path. Now let's say that your co-workers who just happen to live in your same neighborhood recognize the convenience of your shortcut and also begin to trod it with you, the path will more or less grow in width. Now let's say that your place of occupation has a great economical surge and as a result, hires more employees, and they all happen to move to your neighborhood and also tread the same path as yourself and the original employees. The path will grow even larger. In the same manner, the Pathway of the Dead shall grow as a larger crowd treads it one way. Off hand, I'd say the path is six feet wide and the only way I know for sure, as a reliable source, to find the actual length of it, would be to get yourself killed somehow and &quot;hike&quot; that particular path. If that helped you not, I'm sorry, I'm tired and full of cynicism. It's a hard-knocked life after all, better treat it like it's a plastic explosive in a tumbling dryer getting ready to turn on to delicate.

</p>

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newly Deceased
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I hope you caught that...

I hope you caught that little phrase I wrote, &quot;Let's see if I can't DEDUCT REASONING to find a solution to your trivial question.&quot; If you didn't, I hope you catch it now.

</p>

[The Barrow-Wight]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wraith of Angmar
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Re: I hope you caught that...

So, with that out fo the way, anyone care to tackle this question in a serious way?

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
<font size="2">I usually haunt http://www.barrowdowns.comThe Barrow-Downs</a> and The Barrow-Downs http://www.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgiMiddle-Earth Discussion Board</a>.</p>

[JesTheJade]

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Re: I hope you caught that...

The Atlas of Middle-Earth says that Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the Dúnedain traveled 30 miles through the Paths of the Dead.

With all the detail in this wonderful book, I believe it. <img src=smile.gif ALT="">

Jes

I usually watch over <a href=http://www.barrowdowns.com>The Barrow Downs</a> and <a href=http://pub28.ezboard.com/bamonhen>Amon Hen</a>.

<a href=mailto:JesTheJade@excite.com></p>

[Arvedui]

Thirty miles would be close to right. The question is also, how many days were they underground, hence having no gauge of days.