LotR -- Book 2 - Chapter 03 - The Ring goes South

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Interesting citations by Boromir, but I've been inclined towards Aiwendil's
views of Caradhras and the autonomous Middle-earth forces (for good and ill),
and also with distaste for PJ's having Saruman "control" Caradhras, for reasons
cited by A. above.

Gandalf's reply is actually somewhat ambiguous, also, he is Gandalf the
Grey, with incomplete knowledge of facts. And remember the false rumors
of Rohan's voluntarily sending horses to Sauron.

A quote indicating Caradhras's generally autonomous nasty nature:

'Caradhras was called the Cruel, and had an ill name,' said Gimli, 'long years ago, when rumour of Sauron had not been heard in these lands.'

And a (possible) hint that Caradhras has its own agenda for causing snow,
apart from Sauron's:

It is the ill will of Caradhras. He does not love Elves and Dwarves, and the drift was laid to cut off our escape.

And it's interesting to see what an active (positive) role Boromir has in this
chapter, (without even scooping up the ring).