Why Moria?

[Elu Ancalime]

Besides the entire trip in general, it is interesting how the Fellowship never really had a plan to get throug each individual places.

Like Moria for example: If Every member knew they would have to skirmish some goblins, Gandalf might have said "Well, stick to your sword techniques, the hobbits need to stick close to use, Legolas will pwn with his bow, etc" But in every situation, it seems the just "wing it."

When they asked Aragorn about where they would be going after Gandalf fell, he knew they would be going to Lothlorien, but I remeber he said something to the effect of: "Perhaps Gandalf didnt even know what we were going to do." So maybe part of the reson to go to Lorien was to take counsel with The Lord and Lady. Every stage in the quset was taken one day at a time. Did this affect them after they chose the Fellowship in Rivendell? Because it didnt seem like Elrond would say, "Well, duh, your going though Moria", or the Redhorn Gate or High Pass.

Another thing that I wonder about: How did they propose to enter Mordor? Since originally the entire Fellowship was going to Orodruin, did they just assume they were going to "wing it" and sneak in through the Black Gate? Sureley they would have been opposed to the Cirith Ungol, but what about the Morgul Pass? And even though it is obvious that the Easterling Summer Camp was going on behind Mordor, was Time the only thing holding them back from going around the Ashen Mountains?

The CoE explained some of the ways they could not go, quickly dissmissing hiding the Ring, taking it to Valinor, or taking it to the Havens, but they did not talk about aking it to the havens to be taken to Mordor, and small variants like it. Little comments from Boromir about going through the Gap or around the Andrst were dissmised also, but was that really taken into consideration like it is here?

My question is this: How well did they plan their trip? Was Gandalf just going to improv along the way?
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Ford t platform specifications

[Rhod the Red]

Improvise. He said something near the Redhorn Gate passage like "Let's plan only as we progress".

[alatar]

Originally Posted by Rhod the Red

Improvise. He said something near the Redhorn Gate passage like "Let's plan only as we progress".

Exactly. I think that there may have been three determinants affecting the planning. One, not knowing exactly what they would find around any bend of the road, the FotR had to assess the path as far as they could foresee at that time. Like the crossing of the mountains - that was the plan until the snow and giants/boulders changed everything. Two, there were certain sanctuaries that were to be visited after some traumatic adventure (i.e. Old Forest -> Bombadil; Riders -> Rivendell; Moria -> Lothlorien; Black Gate -> Ithilien) in order to replenish the body and soul for the next stage/level of the journey(s). And third and to me most important, we mustn't leave out that seemingly infallible guide *stupidity*.

Think about it. It's stupidity that keeps Frodo from being found by the Black Riders, it's stupidity that gets Merry and Pippin into the hands of the Uruks, ultimately leading to the overthrowing of Saruman. It's the same idiocy that allows Aragorn to get Sauron to play his hand earlier than he may have wanted (i.e. Pip looking into the palantir), and where would Middle Earth be if Gollum chose to leave Sammath Naur before dancing a gig?

I'll leave the other examples to you to find.

[Morsul the Dark]

I feel, That stealth was far more important than speed. I'd also agree with the question regarding Legolas's route to Rivendell. Also Two or three more elves in the group may have been useful. I would think 5 more sets of hands wouldn't have made the troupe burdensome of course I'd also think it interesting if the fellowship contained as many as the dwarves' company.

In the end though I'd say They could have taken alternate routes through the mountains or even if Gwaihir still was Lord there (Of course assuming they still had regular patrols) could have brought them over the mountains.

as for Dul Guldor, the ring had passed it by bfore in a FAR closer proximity when Bilbo went through Mirkwood in fact he Wore it in Mirkwood.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Rhod the Red

Improvise. He said something near the Redhorn Gate passage like "Let's plan only as we progress".

As well as other reasons mentioned, I think that this would also be useful because if they didn't know exactly where they were going, then it would be much harder for anyone else to know where they were going and ambush them there.

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

As well as other reasons mentioned, I think that this would also be useful because if they didn't know exactly where they were going, then it would be much harder for anyone else to know where they were going and ambush them there.

Yes, with also the implication that the obvious routes should be suspect--the northern Route, the Gap of Rohan, and the Redhorn Pass. Moria strikes me as a route nobody would have predicted...

[Keyan]

I don't think the sea is a viable option. A ship is easy to spot, and an elven ship would be very conspicuous. The Corsairs would certainly intercept it, along with the winged Nazgul.

I think that part of it is simply literary adventure. And, we had to have an Evil that could be on par to Gandalf for that part of the story, which I am unsure would have been that plausible if they had gone another route.

And Moria is one of the best parts of the book.

[Morsul the Dark]

Couldn't radagast have guided them through mirkwood? Also they may have been able to rest in Thranduil's halls for a bit to recover as well.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Morsul the Dark

Couldn't radagast have guided them through mirkwood? Also they may have been able to rest in Thranduil's halls for a bit to recover as well.

I wouldn't think bringing the Ring within the influence of Dol Guldur would have been wise.