When was Gandalf in Moria?

[Sardy]

Just curious if this is adressed anywhere? When did Gandalf make his first trip through Moria, and what were the circumstances surrounding it?

On a similar topic, I'm reading the trilogy for the 6th time, and find Aragorn's insistance that if they do enter Moria that Gandalf personally will be in danger? How does he know this? Why does he believe this? I assume that he either had a "dream" or is thinking of some omen or prophesy, though no explanation seems to be evident in the text...

[Glirdan]

To answer your thread question, if I'm not mistaken, it does explain the circumstances and reasoning for why Gandalf first entered Moria in the FotR. I believe he first went in when he was searching for Thrain and Thror, Thorin's father and grand-father. It explains that in (correct me if I'm wrong) The Unfinished Tales as well as The Hobbit. Now that I think about though, i don't think it did say it anywhere in the FotR so, if someone could verify what I just said, it'd be appreciated.

[Boromir88]

Well, Glirdan there may be more, but there is this, and it should be sufficient to back ya up :

"Good Gimli!" said Gandalf. "You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf's head will be less easy to bewuilder than Elves or Men or Hobbits. Yet it will not be the first time that I have been to Moria. I sought there long for Thrain son of Thror after he was lost. I passed through, and I came out again alive!"~A Journey in the Dark

And if I remember right Gandalf had gone searching for Thrain because he had one of the Dwarven Rings.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Sardy, if you read the 'Tale of Aragorn and Arwen' in Appendix A, you will discover that he comes from a family that is gifted with foresight. I'm not sure whether there is a reference anywhere that sheds more light on this particular instance, but at any rate, it is an inherited ability. Perhaps it was strengthened by his close contact with the Elves as well, perhaps even amplified through the connection with Arwen. The latter is, however, pure speculation on my part.

[Mithalwen]

It seems that some people have moments of foresight rather than it as a permanent faculty althoug it may be obscured that the elves long lives give them such experience of the world that they are better at knowing what is likely to happen (like adults watching children on a course of action, that the adults feels will inevitably end in tears but as long as it won't end in blood and a trip to casualty they let the children learn by experience). Also there is the distinction between true foresight and a hunch.

Aragorn does seem to have a moment of true insight when he is so specific about Gandalf but it is less clear say with Halbarad's prediction of his own death at the door of the Paths of the Dead. He is riding to battle and you could say that his death lay beyond even if it were many years later. Similarly when Legolas say he fears that they will not all be together again - does he know already that Gandalf at least will soon depart, is it more than a less than optimistic guess?

Another clear example from the first age would be the prediction of Huor regarding Earendil. I can't help thinking that the isloated incidentsat points of extreme stress are more interesting than the predictions of those we expect to have special abilities (such as Saruman foretelling that Frodo will have neither health or long life). I would also link (in my speculation at least) other moments of unusual power such as Sam's Elvish invocation in the tower of Cirith Ungol. If isolated incidents are not manifestations of someone's inherent capacity are they "sent" - and now perhaps I should adjourn to the thread about Boromir and Faramir's dream...

[Rhod the Red]

I don't think Aragorn had forsight. it's just that he knew Moria was dangerious at the time. With the goblins on the rampage. Plus, it seems as if Gandalf's magic is quite limited.

The red ring appears to only be usable with wood around. So there wasn't much chance of using it in Moria.

Aside from that, Gandalf doesn't appear to have any capacities beyond a human. He had his stamina and sword: enough to get through Moria the first time, but a second?