Bali trudged up the mountain, following Hathalas. He was actually quite glad for the help of the elf, for he had led the group on a relatively straight route while still missing many of the dangerous naturnal features which existed.
Soon the company came to a thick patch of ice on the hillside. The dwarves then came to the front, using their axe blades to bust footholds into the hard ground before them. The others followed behind them.
Within an hour's climb they reached the top of the summit, a flat plateau covered with a thin layer of snow. Immediately, the weather changed for the worse. Snow blew hard in the vicious wind, causing the vision of many members to become difficult.
They trudged along the flat open area, and soon came to a wall of white rock, the start of the mountains. But there was also a large opening, which Bali made for. Through it little could be seen, but within the company there was no doubt that it was the entrance to the pass of Caradhras.
"Well, here we are; this is the pass of Caradhras. We will now enter a dangerous road, which will drop down steeply for a while. It does not lead underground, but when there are great storms the pass darkens. Watch your step, and keep near the walls. There are many sheer dropoffs into the nothingness below." The company moved into the pass, and was soon swallowed up by the swirling white storm.
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