Quote:
|
'That I feared it too,' Aragorn answered, `but less than other things. I knew the risk of snow, though it seldom falls heavily so far south, save high up in the mountains. But we are not high yet; we are still far down, where the paths are usually open all the winter.'
|
Aragorn says the risk of snow lessens in the south, and at lower altitudes. Therefore it can be logically deduced that risk of snow is greater in the north, and at higher altitudes. I wouldn't call that nonsense or speculation - it is inference.
It is illogical to think that Gandalf, Aragorn, the Fellowship, or the Council of Elrond were not thinking of risks. The whole route is planned for speed and avoiding danger as much as possible (which is why they don't go further south by the Gap of Rohan). Aragorn uses the word "risk" in the comment at the top of this post.