One does not simply walk into Mordor...

Today we drove into Mordor.

Mount Doom

Sauron's evil Unicorn X-ing?

The day was uncharacteristically sunny, and it did not rain once (like it has every day leading up to today). There was no spectral fog, or awful stink in the air. It was brutally cold while we were exploring the sites of Emyn Muil and Mordor. Filming in Mordor took place on the side of Mt. Ruapehu, a large, jaggedy, snow-capped volcano in the middle of New Zealand's North Island. Mount Doom itself was actually a neighbouring volcanic peak. Our hotel is located right between the two. Strange to find such nice accommodations this side of the Black Gates...

About as strange as the road signs on approach to the area this morning. 

We spent a good couple of hours clambering about the blasted volcanic rock and steep bluffs of the Emyn Muil location where Frodo and Sam got lost before Gollum lead them to the Marshes. We felt about as isolated as them, as it was accessible via a nearly deserted ski village.

Joe is a happy gollum

Janelle is a sneaky gollum

We also saw the general location where Isildur cut the ring from Sauron's hand in the Great Battle of the Last Alliance. We took it upon ourselves to re-enact the entire scene quite accurately:

It was in this moment when all hope had failed,

that Janelle took up her sword...

And cut the ring from Joe's hand (notice the flying glove)

Fortunately we likely won't be seeing the foreboding, erupting, lightning-y version of Mordor, but we do have emergency instructions in the hotel manual in case of eruptions. 

We're going to be enjoying the Hotel facilities for the rest of the day...which is a good thing, because after staying in campgrounds for the past week, we barely made it to the hotel...

I can't carry it for you... but I can carry you!!!