The Lord of the Rings: A Really Long Hike

Also Sauron would have instantly known what they were doing and why.

Two ten mile days back to back and off road requires effort, planning, cooperation, skills, knowledge, and practice with gear. It is not an easy undertaking. If you are considering this, start small. That early comment about feet hurt. That can easily be avoided by doing a lot of walking in good shoes regularly and having well broken in shoes for the 2 day hike.
Me, now that I've retired I'm walking my dog every day. 1,060 miles in last 365 days. I'm wearing a 25 pound pack while doing it. I've been mistaken for homeless, but have a nice home with a paid off mortgage.
One of the things that set us apart is the ability to regulate our temperature. We can lose heat by sweating. A human can hunt many mammals just by chasing them down at a walking speed, keeping them from water sources until the animal collapses of heat exhaustion. This method is still used today.

“How do you come to be in this benighted part of the country?”
“I’m on a walking tour,” said Ransom; “slept at Stoke Underwood last night and had hoped to end at Nadderby tonight. They wouldn’t put me up, so I was going on to Sterk.”
“God!” exclaimed Devine, his corkscrew still idle. “Do you do it for money, or is it sheer masochism?”
“Pleasure, of course,” said Ransom, keeping his eye immovably on the still unopened bottle.
“Can the attraction of it be explained to the uninitiate?” asked Devine, remembering himself sufficiently to rip up a small portion of the silver paper.
“I hardly know. To begin with, I like the actual walking—”
“God! You must have enjoyed the army. Jogging along to Thingummy, eh?”
“No, no. It’s just the opposite of the army. The whole point about the army is that you are never alone for a moment and can never choose where you’re going or even what part of the road you’re walking on. On a walking tour you are absolutely detached. You stop where you like and go on when you like. As long as it lasts you need consider no one and consult no one but yourself.”
“Until one night you find a wire waiting at your hotel saying, ‘Come back at once,’ ” replied Devine, at last removing the silver paper.
“Only if you were fool enough to leave a list of addresses and go to them! The worst that could happen to me would be that man on the wireless saying, ‘Will Dr. Elwin Ransom, believed to be walking somewhere in the Midlands—’ ””

— Out of the Silent Planet: (Space Trilogy, Book One) (The Space Trilogy 1) by C. S. Lewis

the evidence does not clearly show that, appeal-to-authority arrogantly claims that

We have many lovely parks that we love to hike.

I enjoyed being in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia for hikes of indeterminate length. The debate was usually, “Do we make this a circle hike (a loop) or a there-and-back-again?”

This video really did make me want to go for a walk! 👍

Recently my wife and I went to the Olympia National Forrest in the State of Washington, what a wonderland of mosses hanging in the trees. We went in the winter and hiked through the snow running into elk and deer. Last October we went the Grand Tetons just as the leaves on the Aspen trees change to their fall yellow, another wonderland of beauty with the back drop of the Teton Mountains.

Very insightful!! A love of nature is threaded through throughout Mr. Tolkien's work. I'm guessing everything he ever wrote was triggered by remembering the peaceful sounds of nature he'd enjoyed during his childhood. Water trickling, birds chirping, rabbits scratching in the hedgerow. A good, vigorous (or leisurely) walk through a natural setting, breathing fresh air, can really help someone clear their head and sort out their thoughts. 🚶‍♂👣🐰🌳🌲

The Belgariad series, while inspired by the Lord of the Rings, has the characters journey by horses.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, English gentry liked exploring the Swiss Alps.
(Many Swiss mountains were actually first climbed by Englishmen).

Tolkien was one of them. He spent a summer in the Swiss Alps, including some time in Zermatt.
One of the mountains in Zermatt (much more accessible for the casual mountaineer than the daunting Matterhorn) is called Rothorn, or Red Horn in English.

I like to think that Tolkien once climbed Rothorn and there got his inspiration for the Red Horn pass in the Lord of the Rings.

See any magic on your trek?

I like to hike anywhere with water, because I love seeing running water, and part of me is still a little kid who loves to go splashing in streams.

So... Peter Jackson's movie trilogy is... a road movie?

Did it ever occur to you how many parallels in the story there are in the LotR with the Hobbit? JRR was grand in recycling anyway, his drawings and paintings give eloquent testimony for that. I give one example Moria and the Goblins cave in on the mountain. One could inject: Both are classic adventure/quest plots. Sure but still, …

The propaganda is strong with this one!

It's adorable that eastern North Americans call their leftover stumps, mountains

When I was young and living in London England myself and my family would go for walks in Epping Forest that links London to rural Essex. When we mover to Sussex I would go for long walks on the South Downs way with friends and would go for walks with my Mum and Day in Pevensey. Sometimes to go fishing plus sometimes to walk around Pevensey Castle a medieval castle and former Roman Saxon Shore fort. In Essex I like to walk the Essex Marshes by the Black Water river. I am coming to the end of my foundation year doing film at Falmouth University and can wait to start exploring Cornwall's great land.

The Appalachian trail is my dream. I've hiked the first 40 miles and also day hikes on other sections but one day I'll go and hike the entire trail.

Hiking Jess silently pleading with camera: "I, an intellectual, really need to be saved from this unexpected exertion. HALPPP!!1" :'D

Loved the juxtaposition between the researched lecture and the nature hike with the family group :)

Just spent much of the weekend hiking, its such a pleasant activity!

Been starting long walks for exercise recently. I actually drew inspiration from fantasy stories like LOTR, The Hobbit, and Conan The Barbarian to start, so much so that I listen to a playlist of fantasy music when I go outside.

Thank you for sharing and validating how much fun walking and hiking can be!

When you say "Canterbury", drop the "u" so it becomes three syllables.

What a great, insightful exploration! Thanks for sharing it! I enjoy spending time outside, just walking in nature. It's good for the spirit, grounds me in my himanity and brigs me closer to the eternal.

Recognized one of those views from near where I grew up! Susquehanna River, I-83 bridge looking toward the railroad bridge. Gosh I haven’t seen that in a long time! The Appalachian Trail went right by my neighborhood, so this really took me back!

20 miles is only a 6hr hike

I remember the 20 mile road marches in the Army..20 miles in 5 hours. Sheer misery and determination. Nope.

1 year ago. 200 subscribers. As I type this, 132,000 subscribers. WELL DONE and well deserved.

I think having experienced long hikes changes how you read fantasy. The need for time and effort to change scenery is more ingrained into your brain, and you tend to notice irregularities like characters inexplicably changing locations to fast.

I get we have cars now, but it's kinda weird hearing someone talk about walking like it's this almost forgotten ancestral activity. A testament to the fact that American cities are ridiculously car centric, I suppose. You guys can't even walk to the store to get some eggs in most places.

I appreciate your efforts to dig into perspective based topics. It's refreshing in a sea of lotr videos rehashing the lore over and over!

I've seen and read numerous more recent theories that suggest interestingly that .. bipedilism gets you height, and we have decent vision (not great, but pretty good.) More to point, one of humanities unsung super traits is endurance - more than many/most (or our prey at least) animals; a cheetah is very fast is bursts, but a human can run it down. Human tribes have been done to run to evade animals until the animals gfive up or just become xhausted; likewise, humans have stalked fleeing prey until the animal cannot run anymore. So, we ea better, get taller, see further (due to height), and run things down; plus, thumbs and intellect giving us tools and adaptability. Pretty sweet package!

Glad to hear you're going full time! Good luck with the channel :)

I got the chance and was lucky enough to be able to go to greece. The island I was on, along with the rest of my group, would frequently go on hikes through barely posted signs. The signs were painted dots on rocks or trees so you had to pay attention to know you were not lost. I think about how great those trips were. truly amazing landscapes to be seen all over the place.

Walking is also precarious especially when something is chasing you, hunting for you.
It builds tension to be slow, it forces one to be reckless & take otherwise unadvisable shortcuts...

200 subscribers 1 year ago? You have grown fast. And deservedly so.

Darwinism? 🙄

I hiked all 2194.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 22. It was a life changing experience. Best decision of my life. Can't say I didn't think of Frodo and Sam more than once. Cheers!
@Jess of the Shire : good on you for tacking your portion of the AT 🖤

I like hiking the Appalachian Trail too, but my favorite hike is a place called Old Rag. Since I live close to Shenandoah National Park, there are a lot more hikes I like around there.

I love the tea house trecks in Nepal, affordable and a bed to sleep in at night so no need to lug a tent around, plus the Himalayas ❤

Excellent video, thank you!

I agree, completely, that walking is a wonderful and healthy occupation.

My favourite place to walk is the English Lake District. It must be one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
However, the most emotional place I walked was Kinder Scout in the English Peak District, at the site of the “mass trespass“ of 1932, where walkers fought for the right to roam; many were imprisoned, but they won the day.

Recently I was in the Alps, and of course, these mountains blocked the route for the pilgrims from northern Europe to reach Rome, and they had to cross high Alpine passes. Many of these passes have ancient monasteries, which were built, at least in part for the benefit of pilgrims.
Of course, the fellowship had to cross the Misty Mountains. And perhaps Rivendell “the last homely house“ was inspired by the sanctuary provided by the wise monks.

You seem to suggest that Tolkien would be drawing on his memories of the countryside of his childhood, and I’ve no doubt that’s true. But I understand that he actually wrote much of the Lord of the rings while staying at Stonycroft College near the River Ribble in rural Lancashire. That is a stunningly beautiful area, and I’d be very surprised if he was not hand every day, drawing inspiration from that locality.

I am English and I’m proud of our walking pioneers such as the Wordsworths and Coleridge. But a shout out to an American that I thought you would mention – the wonderful John Muir!

As a teenager I did a lot of hiking, both day hikes and extended trips with backpacks, including a 50 mile section of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania. On one of these hikes with two friends, there was one of us who had not read The Lord of the Rings. Myself and my other friend told the entire story (to the best of our memories) to the third friend while we hiked. Perhaps the story was even more magical to that friend as we traversed our woodland paths.

Thanks again. But imagine being REALLY good at walking like the hobbits

Simple because its a lot less painful and time consuming than crawling 😂

why walk... oh ffs.... and you're not a baby? to be clear

the premise of your video makes so much sense. A journey on foot allows one to enjoy the experience so much more. I regularly get out in the Oregon Coast Range for long hikes, all year round. Each season brings new discoveries on the trail. Watching your video makes me want to grab a walking stick and get out into the countryside.

I’m doing the Conquerer Lord of the Rings challenge where you walk the length the characters did but broken down over 2 years so you only have to do about 2.5 miles a day but can do more if you want. It’s nice, I’m walking more. Even if it’s just lapping the mall (I’m in Arizona it is hot outside)

Threw hiking the Appalachian trail is big bucket list thing I wanna do before I die. I don't want to leave my pets for the 5-6 months the treck takes, so I'll probably pursue it after my cats pass, likely 10-15 years from now. If my dog is still alive, depending on her health (she is currently 10, so if she's still around, I don't expect her to be healthy enough), I will just hike with her. She would enjoy it, but only one of my cats would, and the other would hate it and can't handle be apart from me for long either. I live near the Mohawk trail, I think a stretch of it, so I might through hike that for now. It's only 69 miles, or something like that.
When I climbed Mount Major with my cousins in New Hampshire, parts of the mountain reminded us of the overhead shots of Legolas, Ghimli, and Aragorn running across middle earth, so we played LotR music on those sections of the hike. So fun!

I think the idea that one is better than the other is reductive. They are two versions of the same character in concert, and feel incomplete without each other.

Parkinson's disease has taught me not to take walking for granted.

Ive always wanted to do the Appalachia trail.