The Fords of Isen Traditional Cache

The Fords of Isen were a strategic crossing point of the Great North-South Road over the River Isen, within the Gap of Rohan.  As the Fords were the only crossing point over the Isen south of Isengard, they were guarded continuously by the Rohirrim and were the site of two battles during the War of the Ring.

During the First Battle of the Fords of Isen (Third Age 3019), Theodred son of King Theoden led a force of nine companies of calvary across the Fords of Isen to engage an army comprised of Orcs, horsemen from Dunland, wolf-riders and two companies of Uruk-Hai, who were sent from Isengard by Saruman.  Theodred was slain at the Fords by an Uruk-Hai warrior, and his beleaguered force was saved from destruction only through the heroics of Grimbold of the Westfold, who defended the west bank of the river, and Elfhelm, who arrived late in the battle with four companies of Rohirrim and drove the enemy from the east shore of the river. Together, Grimbold and Elfhelm routed the remaining enemies that had surrounded Theodred's force within the midst of the Fords of Isen.

Following the battle, Erkenbrand chose to continue to defend the Fords of Isen with a Rohirrim force under the command of Grimbold and Elfhelm.  However, less than two weeks later, in the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen, this severely outnumbered force was overwhelmed and forced to withdraw from the Fords.   

The cache is located a bit north of the crossing of the Great North-South Road (Bethpage Bikeway) over the River Isen (intermittent stream).  As the North-South Road can be quite busy at times, please beware of Orcs, cyclists, Dunland horsemen, skaters, wolf-riders, joggers, Uruk-Hai and other muggles.