Wonderful if slightly scary thread .. actually Helms Deep isn't so far from Lorien (though still a fair step) - don't forget that the Three Hunters backtracked a lot..
And I think that the escape from the volcano is a bit implausible especially as portrayed in the films ... Gollum would have just gone Phzzz in a nano second even before he hit the lava - not sunk still looking quite pleased to have the ring back
