The Company went South instead of going East, as Legolas has said, because they need to hurry before the Nazgūl recovered from the losing of their horses and re-established their watching over the paths as it is said in:
Quote:
'You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron' he said. I do not doubt that news of the discomfiture of the Riders has already reached him, and he will be filled with wrath. Soon now his spies on foot and wing will be abroad in the northern lands. Even of the sky above you must beware as you go on your way'
The Ring Goes South
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And they chose the west side of the mountains because they thought it to be safer
Quote:
Their purpose was to hold this course west of the Mountains for many miles and days. 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
The Ring Goes South
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And Gandalf and Aragorn had planned from the beginning of their journey to cross the path of Caradhras (Gandalf already knew the treason of Saruman and didn't want to get too close to Isengard)
Quote:
'It is for the Dimrill Dale that we are making' said Gandafl. 'If we climb the pass that is called the Redhorn Gate, under the far side of Caradhras, we shall come down by the Dimrill Stair into the deep vale of the Dwarves. There lies the Mirrormere, and there the River Silverlode rises in icy spring'
The Ring Goes South
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