Entertainment · Gaming · 3 hrs ago
Skyrim artist tried to fit all 7,000 steps onto the mountain
A Bethesda associate art director tried to build all 7,000 steps into Skyrim’s climb to High Hrothgar.
The path is part of the Throat of the World, a mountain in the game’s fictional world, and begins near the village of Ivarstead.
The visible path has about 700 carved steps, while one estimate puts the climb at roughly 2,400 footsteps.
The artist said his attempt to fit 7,000 steps would have extended past Ivarstead, wrapped around the mountain and ended near Whiterun.
That route was too long to fit the game’s layout, which compresses distances so players can travel without spending days getting between places.
The artist also said he did not create the enemy encounters, including the Frost Troll that attacks players on the climb.
A Bethesda associate art director tried to fit all 7,000 steps onto Skyrim’s mountain path to High Hrothgar.
The artist said the attempt would have extended beyond Ivarstead, wrapped around the mountain and ended near Whiterun.
The game’s path has about 700 carved steps, while a reported estimate puts the climb at approximately 2,400 footsteps.
The artist said Skyrim’s distances are compressed because the open-world game is not designed to scale.
The account appeared in a Bethesda retrospective marking the studio’s 40th anniversary.
- Who
- A Bethesda associate art director who refined the shapes of High Hrothgar.
- What
- The artist tried to fit 7,000 steps onto the mountain path in Skyrim.
- When
- The account was published on November 4, 2026. The date of the artist’s attempt is not stated.
- Where
- On the Throat of the World in Skyrim, on the route from Ivarstead to High Hrothgar.
- Why
- The artist said they wanted to be as faithful to the lore or real life as possible.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Carved steps
- About 700
- Estimated footsteps
- Approximately 2,400
- Artist’s proposed route
- From beyond Ivarstead, around the mountain, to near Whiterun
- Studio retrospective
- Bethesda’s 40th anniversary
What people are saying
I take no responsibility for the Frost Troll that was the woe of many players.
It turns out, 7,000 is quite a lot!