Why Moria? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rhod the Red · 05-05-2006, 06:57 AM

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Originally Posted by goldfinger

The Redhorn pass wouldn't have been any easier than Moria, considering Orcs were still known to ambush travelers who took that route.

In The Hobbit perhaps, but there's no assertion of that at the Council Of Elrond. How do you think Legolas reached Rivendell?

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-05-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elu

And the High Pass?

I seem to recall it being said somewhere that, at the time the Fellowship left Rivendell (in December), the High Pass was impassable.

Kuruharan · 05-05-2006, 09:45 AM

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Surely the survivors of Kazad-dum

They did not know what it was. As Gandalf said, there were many nameless things in the deep places of the world. Durin's Bane could have been any one of a number of them.

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that although the Balrog had "shape shifting" powers

Do you really want to open that can o' worms here?

Rhod the Red · 05-10-2006, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

I seem to recall it being said somewhere that, at the time the Fellowship left Rivendell (in December), the High Pass was impassable.

I'm reading

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The Lord of the Rings

again, and no such thing is said. So the High Pass was clear, as far as I'm concerned.

**The Saucepan Man** · 05-10-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhod

So the High Pass was clear, as far as I'm concerned.

Seems that's right. Not sure where I got that from. Perhaps an old board game where the play of a "bad weather" card can close the High Pass.

Which begs the question as to why the Fellowship did not take the High Pass. It was close to Rivendell and safer than other passages over the Misty Mountains, as it was guarded by the Beornings.

The only clue that I can find lies in the following passage in The Ring Goes South:

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The country was much rougher and more barren than in the green vale of the Great River in Wilderland on the other side of the range, and their going would be slow; but they hoped in this way to escape the notice of unfriendly eyes. The spies of Sauron had hitherto seldom been seen in this empty country, and the paths were little known except to the people of Rivendell.

So it seems that the Fellowship was reckoned to have a greater prospect of remaining unseen by travelling west of the mountains, even thought the eastern path was probably the safer and swifter one.

Rhod the Red · 05-10-2006, 08:03 AM

Plus the High Pass route would make them take longer, if you look at the distance. Maybe a few weeks.

JennyHallu · 05-10-2006, 08:03 AM

Had they taken the High Pass, they would have come out on the other side of the Mountains far to the north. While the Pass itself might not have been closed, to travel south from there would have required passing dangerously close to Dol Guldur, an obstacle of the caliber of Minas Morgul. The Redhorn Gate left them in the uninhabited, neutral lands between the mountains and Lothlorien, all together a route less likely to draw Sauron's Eye. And as for the choice of Moria, Gandalf had passed through before safely. Were it not for Pippin and the well, it is likely that they could have gotten through in total secrecy, by an unguarded way.

Rhod the Red · 05-10-2006, 08:07 AM

With hindsight, the High Pass would have been safer. Speed was not as important as stealth in my view. One did not need to go near Dol Guldor to travel East of the Misty Mountains

JennyHallu · 05-10-2006, 08:37 AM

So take a pass known to be the haunt of Goblins? Wasn't it somewhere mentioned that the activities of the orcs in the pass had increased since TH?

05-10-2006, 08:03 AM	#6
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	Plus the High Pass route would make them take longer, if you look at the distance. Maybe a few weeks. __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

05-10-2006, 08:03 AM	#7
JennyHallu The Pearl, The Lily Maid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my luxury Barrow, snuggled up in a pile of satin pillows, eating fresh fruit. Posts: 1,628	Had they taken the High Pass, they would have come out on the other side of the Mountains far to the north. While the Pass itself might not have been closed, to travel south from there would have required passing dangerously close to Dol Guldur, an obstacle of the caliber of Minas Morgul. The Redhorn Gate left them in the uninhabited, neutral lands between the mountains and Lothlorien, all together a route less likely to draw Sauron's Eye. And as for the choice of Moria, Gandalf had passed through before safely. Were it not for Pippin and the well, it is likely that they could have gotten through in total secrecy, by an unguarded way. __________________ <=== Lookee, lookee, lots of IM handles!

05-10-2006, 08:07 AM	#8
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	With hindsight, the High Pass would have been safer. Speed was not as important as stealth in my view. One did not need to go near Dol Guldor to travel East of the Misty Mountains __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

05-10-2006, 08:37 AM	#9
JennyHallu The Pearl, The Lily Maid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my luxury Barrow, snuggled up in a pile of satin pillows, eating fresh fruit. Posts: 1,628	So take a pass known to be the haunt of Goblins? Wasn't it somewhere mentioned that the activities of the orcs in the pass had increased since TH? __________________ <=== Lookee, lookee, lots of IM handles!