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Originally Posted by Lhunardawen
Finally, on a very serious note, the mini-landslide at the beginning of the chapter prove a bit fortunate for them as their travel was made less burdensome thanks to the force of gravity. But for me I read that part at the wrong time, what with the recent landslide in Southern Leyte here in the Philippines - which I'm sure some of you have heard news of - that claimed so many lives. Of course I can't blame Tolkien, but I couldn't help but be reminded of the tragedy when I read that.
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I did a quick "find" on 'landslide' and 'avalanche' on this thread and didn't find any answers to your comment, so I'll give this a go. Tolkien actually experienced an avalanche in the Alps when he was young. He was on a narrow path with a group, and an avalanche started, and a boulder passed right between him and a lady walking in front of him. Had he or the woman been a few feet farther forward or back, they would have been dead. So Tolkien includes it in TH in all seriousness as to how dangerous landslides are.