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The Lord of the Rings

Gandalf’s Errands

Gandalf the Grey

The wizard's zig-zag across Middle-earth, from the Shire to Orthanc's roof and back from death

Distance
3,400 miles · 5,471 km
days
348
Places
15
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Gandalf’s Errands on the map of Middle-earth

Gandalf covered well over 2,000 miles in the eleven and a half months between April TA 3018 and March TA 3019, helped by Shadowfax, the Eagles and a road under the mountains no one else could have taken.

Gandalf's movements are the hardest to follow on a map because he doubles back constantly, and for most of The Fellowship of the Ring the reader only learns about them afterwards, at the Council of Elrond.

The chain starts in the Shire in April TA 3018, when he tells Frodo what the ring is, having already found his proof in Isildur's scroll and in what he learned from Gollum. He stays until the end of June, leaves on news of war in Gondor, and on the road Radagast brings him Saruman's summons to Isengard. On July 10 he is made a prisoner on the pinnacle of Orthanc, and Radagast's moth brings Gwaihir, who carries him off in September. Gandalf comes down at Edoras, where Theoden grudgingly gives him Shadowfax, and rides north after Frodo far too late.

He is at Weathertop on the night of October 3, where the Nazgul besiege him and he breaks out with lightning that Aragorn's party later sees from miles away. He draws four Riders north and reaches Rivendell on October 18, before the hobbits arrive.

With the Fellowship he goes south, is driven off Caradhras, and takes the road under the mountains. On January 15, TA 3019 he holds the Bridge of Khazad-dum against the Balrog and falls with it into deep water. What follows is the strangest stretch of any journey in the book: he pursues the Balrog up the Endless Stair to the peak of Celebdil, fights for two days and two nights above the clouds, throws his enemy down, and dies. He is sent back, and Gwaihir carries his naked body to Lothlorien, where Galadriel clothes him in white.

From there he rides to Fangorn and meets Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli on March 1. He frees Theoden at Edoras, turns the battle at Helm's Deep, casts Saruman from the Order at Isengard, and on March 9 reaches Minas Tirith with Pippin, where he effectively takes command of the defense until Aragorn arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Gandalf during Frodo's journey to Bree?

Imprisoned on the pinnacle of Orthanc from July 10, TA 3018, then flown to Edoras in September. He was riding north on Shadowfax and was attacked at Weathertop on October 3, days ahead of the hobbits.

Where did Gandalf die?

On the peak of Celebdil, the Silvertine, above Moria. He fell from the Bridge of Khazad-dum on January 15, TA 3019, pursued the Balrog up the Endless Stair, and died after casting it down on January 25.

How did Gandalf get to Lothlorien after he died?

He was sent back and left lying on the mountaintop until Gwaihir the Windlord found him and carried him to Caras Galadhon, where Galadriel healed and reclothed him in February TA 3019.

Route, stop by stop

  1. 01 · TA 3018, April

    Hobbiton

    Gandalf returns to Bag End after seventeen years of searching, the last of it spent questioning Gollum in Mirkwood, throws Bilbo's ring into the fire and reads the fire-writing on it. He tells Frodo to leave the Shire and stays on until the end of June, when troubling news from the South calls him away.

  2. 02 · TA 3018, midsummer

    Bree

    Passing through Bree on the road south, Gandalf leaves a letter with Barliman Butterbur to be sent to Frodo at once. Butterbur forgets it, and the hobbits reach the Prancing Pony in September to find it still unsent.

  3. 03 · TA 3018, July 10

    Isengard

    Saruman reveals himself and offers alliance with Sauron. Gandalf refuses and is imprisoned on the pinnacle of Orthanc, where he watches the wolves and orcs gathering in the valley below.

  4. 04 · TA 3018, September 18 to 21

    Edoras

    Gwaihir bears him from the tower and sets him down in Rohan. Theoden, already under Wormtongue's influence, tells him to take any horse and be gone, and Gandalf chooses Shadowfax and rides north for the Shire.

  5. 05 · TA 3018, October 3

    Weathertop

    Five Nazgul trap him on the summit of Amon Sul. He fights them through the night with fire and lightning, breaks out at dawn, and draws four of them away northward, which is why only five attack Frodo three days later.

  6. 06 · TA 3018, October 18

    Rivendell

    Gandalf arrives ahead of the hobbits and confers with Elrond. At the Council on October 25 he reveals Saruman's treachery and afterwards accepts a place in the Fellowship.

  7. 07 · TA 3019, January 13 to 15

    Moria

    He leads the company through the dark, holds the door of the Chamber of Mazarbul against a Balrog's counter-spell, and breaks the Bridge of Khazad-dum. The whip catches his knees and he falls, telling the others to fly.

  8. 08 · TA 3019, January 23 to 25

    Celebdil

    After a long fall into deep water he pursues the Balrog up the Endless Stair to the peak of the Silvertine. They fight for two days above the clouds until Gandalf casts his enemy down onto the mountainside and dies himself.

  9. 09 · TA 3019, February 17

    Lothlórien

    Sent back naked and nameless, he lies on the peak until Gwaihir finds him and carries him to Galadriel. In Caras Galadhon he is healed and clothed in white, and there he learns what has happened to the Fellowship.

  10. 10 · TA 3019, March 1

    Fangorn Forest

    He meets Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli among the trees, at first taken for Saruman. He tells them Merry and Pippin are with Treebeard, reveals that he is now Gandalf the White, and calls Shadowfax with a whistle.

  11. 11 · TA 3019, March 2

    Edoras

    In the hall of Meduseld he casts down Wormtongue's counsel and Theoden walks out of his own door upright. Rohan musters, Eowyn is left to rule, and the king rides west toward the Fords of Isen.

  12. 12 · TA 3019, March 3 to 4

    Helm's Deep

    Gandalf rides away from the host on the eve of battle to gather help, and at dawn on March 4 he comes down on Saruman's army with Erkenbrand and the men of Westfold. Caught between the Hornburg and the Huorns, the orcs are destroyed.

  13. 13 · TA 3019, March 5

    Isengard

    At the flooded ring Gandalf calls Saruman to the window of Orthanc, offers him freedom, and when it is refused breaks his staff and casts him from the Order. That night Pippin looks into the palantir, and Gandalf carries him off on Shadowfax toward Minas Tirith.

  14. 14 · TA 3019, March 9 to 18

    Minas Tirith

    Gandalf brings Pippin to the city on Shadowfax, advises Denethor, leads the sorties on the Pelennor and confronts the Witch-king at the broken gate. After the battle he argues for the march to the Black Gate, and on March 18 he rides out with the host.

  15. 15 · TA 3019, March 25

    Black Gate

    Before the Morannon Gandalf answers the Mouth of Sauron, refuses his terms and takes back Frodo's mail-coat and cloak and Sam's sword. When the Ring goes into the fire he calls the Eagles and flies with Gwaihir to Mount Doom to carry Frodo and Sam out.