[Alchisiel]

Could the Fellowship have taken a route around the Ash Mountains or maybe gone by sea through the mouth of the Anduin up the river Poros, climbed the southern portion of Ephel Duath and came to Mount Doom by the south? Is that not possible? If Gandalf and the rest of the Fellowship took the same route as Sam and Frodo did wouldn't they have been easily seen? That's why I always thought that had Gandalf been with them beyond Moria they would have taken a totally different route. Two little hobbits can't be seen as easily as a wizard, elf, dwarf and two men.