Better than a trip to Mordor, in fact. It’s known as the Tongariro Northern Circuit, and it’s a three+ day hike through the definitive Mordor landscape. Except prettier. We did it last year, we’re doing it again this year, from the 14th to the 17th of February, and any Tolkien fan that can come along is welcome.
Sorry about the short notice. My schedule kept changing. NEXT year we’ll announce it MUCH further in advance for those of you making holiday plans in NZ.
UPDATE
It’s one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, a three-four day hike around Mt. Tongariro, starting at the Chateau at Whakapapa village and going anti-clockwise so you miss the crowds going over Red Crater. It’s all alpine country with the added bonus of some traverses of lava, volcanoes, scoria, craters and the ash-cone of Ngaruhoe as a side-trip. It is the definitive Mordor landscape.
The route is provided with Dept. of Conservation huts, which all have gas cooking facilities, water, toilets, bunks and mattresses. They cost about $20/night. From last year’s experience I can say that it’s a great time to go, plenty of room in the huts and great weather, as far as anything in the mountains can be relied on.
NEXT year, I promise we’ll be organised further ahead and can announce things a lot sooner. This year my schedule kept changing so it was impossible to tell what days were going to be free. Anyone interested in coming (and I’m going whether anyone is or not) can email me at tehanu@theonering.net and I can provide you with any further information you might need. It’s also worth checking the Doc. ‘Great Walks’ page at www.doc.govt.nz
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Ladders and fire and swords, oh my! [More]
!!!SPOILERS!!!
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From: Cathy
From where I live I can almost see between the walls (of the Helms Deep set). The walls have large walkways on top. At the moment the front wall has 3 of the large ladders against it.
Filming was taking place on the top of the back wall last night. It had 1 ladder against it placed on the inside (between the walls) and the camera and lights were at the back. On the right side of the back wall there was a large flame buring and 2 smaller ones on the front wall. Between the walls towards the back there appeared to be a large fire burning at times and they were producing lots of smoke from the fire and from a large cylinder thing(have no idea what this was….maybe dry ice?).
There was a lot of fighting going on with large swords which appeared to be a silver colour. Some of the cast had arrows in a holder on their back and metal head pieces.(Boy do I wish I had stronger binoculars to get more detail)
There is still a lot of building going on on the bottom wall (there are 4 in total)
Will keep you posted as I see anything exciting.
Images: Some Spy pics from Helms Deep as well as Hobbiton.
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The Game Art section of the Gaming Havens has been launched today! [More]
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Greetings, Quickbeam here…
The doldrums of winter are upon us, but I and my fellow Green Bookers Turgon & Anwyn are still hard at work, shedding light within the dark places. Today we unearth fifteen new Questions & Answers, prompted by our ever-so-curious readership. These and many more are just a click away:
- Where did the evil spider Ungoliant come from?
- Did Gandalf have a chance pitted against the Witch-king?
- How does Frodo & Bilbo’s birthday match up on our Gregorian Calendar?
- Why did Tolkien mention “stars” so much, with such reverence?
And dear readers beware! Yours truly recently had his 31st birthday, just a few hours shy of Elijah Wood himself. I promised to mark the occasion by getting an extraordinary Tolkien tattoo (the design of which will remain secret but I provide a hint: think of fiery letters). I have NOT chickened out on that promise, but unfortunately it has been delayed a few weeks. Have faith, I will go under the tattoo artist’s needle and post the shocking photos soon enough.
And keep your eyes peeled for more Green Books articles, interviews, Fan Fiction, Stump the Staff, et cetera!
Much too hasty,
Quickbeam
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Have we got some cool stuff for you… [More]
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