Aragorn in Moria?

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

I am also not suggesting that Aragorn is a coward. However, you presented a possible scenario in which Aragorn takes 3 steps into Moria and then exited.

Of course, it was exaggerated - I didn't mean literally three steps. But it could be that he walked in, looked around a little bit, searching for something, and after a few hours left. He didn't even have to be there overnight, the more walking several days to the other end.

Originally Posted by Morwen

Clarification - I wasn't attempting to disagree with you about Aragorn's seeming lack of knowledge Moria and I do state that Aragorn does not involve himself in the discussions concerning pathways. I was only pointing out that in terms of leading, physical leadership, i.e. the guy out in front, that role had to go to Gandalf as he has to light the way.

Yes, that I agree with.

[Morwen]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

Of course, it was exaggerated - I didn't mean literally three steps. But it could be that he walked in, looked around a little bit, searching for something, and after a few hours left. He didn't even have to be there overnight, the more walking several days to the other end.

This I agree with.

Of course we have come no closer to saying why Aragorn is in Moria.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Morwen

Of course we have come no closer to saying why Aragorn is in Moria.

Exactly And since I doubt there's any obvious evidence, I think the best we can do now is to try to look what "semi-important" matters could have been unsolved at that time on his life when he was already making his journeys... but from the brief look at it, I don't know. Also, let us not forget that Aragorn's life was all full of adventure, so one adventure in Moria doesn't surprise us so much: as we know, Aragorn went even "to the far lands of Rhun and Harad", and what he did there, is also for a pretty nice speculation...

[CSteefel]

Also, if Aragorn had come through Moria from East to West in the period 2988 to 3017, he would have seen the lake, since the Watcher apparently got Oin (?) a year or so the death of Balin. This implies that the lake was already there.

Aragorn seemed to have no knowledge of the western gate at all, while Gandalf had some. Given that Gandalf is much older, it does seem reasonable to me that Aragorn went and then left again by the eastern gate.

The search for Gollum seems the most likely reason to enter Moria, but this is only speculation.

[The Might]

Why...is a really good question...
My opinion is it had something to do with finding out information on Sauron's plans, just like his journeys to the South and East and the outskirts of Mordor.
I'd like to use this quote, already posted once in this thread by Morwen:

He rode in the host of the Rohirrim and fought for the Lord of Gondor by land and by sea; and then in the hour of victory he passed out of the knowledge of Men of the West, and went alone far into the East and deep into the South, exploring the hearts of Men, both evil and good, and uncovering the plotsand devices of the servants of Sauron.

LotR - Appendix A (v)

We know that already in 2480 Sauron began to people Moria with his creatures, also as mentioned in the Tale of the Years, so it makes sense that Aragorn went in to take a look and see what the situation was.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by The Might

We know that already in 2480 Sauron began to people Moria with his creatures, also as mentioned in the Tale of the Years, so it makes sense that Aragorn went in to take a look and see what the situation was.

Well, I think that's actually a pretty good assumption. The problem of Sauron and Moria was actually far bigger than it seems on first sight: it's not just about some wild mountain Orcs, but Sauron had a great interest in getting to Moria. It's not much about it, just hints here and there, but:

Originally Posted by LotR, Appendix A III, Durin's Folk

It came to pass that in the middle of the Third Age Durin was again its king, being the sixth of that name. The power of Sauron, servant of Morgoth, was then again growing in the world, though the Shadow in the Forest that looked towards Moria was not yet known for what it was.

(emphasise mine)
It's obvious that Sauron had some special interest in Moria, why, I cannot say. Perhaps for mithril? Nevertheless, it is known that apart from the "native" Orcs, Sauron actively participated on populating Moria with his own Orcs, apart from the "normal" ones, as TM already mentioned. So the idea of Aragorn's "enspionage mission" looks quite logical.