Why Moria?

[Legolas]

No offense, but once again, please read over what I said again. I didn't say he wasn't. Who inserted things into the story? I was saying there was a risk of harsh weather at Redhorn, which was unusual that far south.

Why would they risk harsher weather by going further north where it was more common, and take the longer route in face of impending doom? It is simply irrational to expect that they would've taken the High Pass. Gandalf never even considers that High Pass an option because of these things. I do not think he is an idiot!

You might also note that they point out that it wasn't simply natural weather acting.

'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.'
'I wonder if this is a contrivance of the Enemy,' said Boromir. 'They say in my land that he can govern the storms in the Mountains of Shadow that stand upon the borders of Mordor. He has strange powers and many allies.'
'His arm has grown long indeed,' said Gimli, 'if he can draw snow down from the North to trouble us here three hundred leagues away.'
'His arm has grown long,' said Gandalf.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Why would they risk harsher weather by going further north where it was more common, and take the longer route in face of impending doom?

To interject on this point, the northern route (east to River
Running) while longer and perhaps minimally colder (Caradhras
was a tall peak so even its regular winter passages might well
be as difficult as the High Pass). Also, the route east
was generally secured by the Beornings, plus they could approach
Mordor from a presumably unexpected point (The Sea of Rhun)
as opposed to knocking on the front door (rather unwise).

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Tuor of Gondolin

To interject on this point, the northern route (east to River
Running) while longer and perhaps minimally colder (Caradhras
was a tall peak so even its regular winter passages might well
be as difficult as the High Pass). Also, the route east
was generally secured by the Beornings, plus they could approach
Mordor from a presumably unexpected point (The Sea of Rhun)
as opposed to knocking on the front door (rather unwise).

I fear that the Sea of Rhûn route would have been a poor idea for the same reasons as the Drûwaith Iaur route: too long. The Fellowship had to get to Mordor ere the West was lost.

Also, the Beornings may have held the upper Vale of Anduin, but to get at Mordor's "back door", the Fellowship would have had to pass through or around Mirkwood (which in addition to being the home of Dol Guldur was also a warzone). Then they would have had to strike out across Rhovannion, which was probably swarming with Easterlings and Orks, and then into Rhûn proper, which was not only full of Easterlings, but a part of Sauron's empire.

The route that Frodo ended up taking may have been dangerous, but I think an alternative route in Mordor- which would have been too long anyway- would have been far more perillous.

[goldfinger]

Another thing that could a have happened is that if they would have taken the Northern routes they could have ran into Giants. Like in The Hobbit.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Rhod the Red

There are no giants in Middle-Earth.

Actually, there were. Bilbo and company found themselves at the business end of a few rocks hurled by Stone Giants as they crossed the Misty Mountains, and Gandalf considered the possibility of borrowing one such rock to stop up the entrance to Goblin-Town. Or are you suggesting (as has been suggested before) that the Stone Giants were a product of Bilbo's fertile imagination? If so, that's pure speculation and, in any event, contradicts the text as presented.

Originally Posted by Rhod the Red

Al;so, how do you know that storms were 'more common' in the north of the mountains? Again, your'e insterting nonsense into the story.

It is entirely reasonable to suppose that storms would have been at least as prevalent and intense, if not more so, in the northern reaches of the Misty Mountains. Speculation maybe, but hardly nonsense.

Rhod, I would suggest that you tone down your aggressive style as it is not conducive to reasoned discussion. Better, perhaps, to direct your energies to getting your own facts straight rather than trying to discredit suggestions made by others.

[Selmo]

Given Tolkien's description of the geography and meteorology of the north-west of Middle Earth, it is entirely reasonable to assume that both the High Pass above Rivendell and the more southerly Redhorn Gate would be impassable in mid-winter when the Fellowship set out.

I live in England which Tolkien took as his pattern for north-west Middle Earth. I'm a few minuets drive from the southern end of a chain of hills called The Pennines. These hills are less than 3000 feet in elevation but before the developement of twentieth century machinery many routes through them would be closed for months in winter. Even now, some roads are regularly closed for days. During a particularly severe winter in the 1970s a village called Flash, just 15 miles from my home, was cut off by snow for over three weeks. It's people and their farm animals were supplied by helicopter while the road-clearing crews from three counties, assisted by the Army and the Royal Air Force, battled against the weather to clear just three miles of road. Flash is at the same latitude as the High Pass and the Misty Mountains are very much higher than the Pennines, so I have always taken for granted that the Fellowship could not cross to the East until later in the year.

I think that the fact that using the High Pass was not even considered in Rivendell means that there was more to it than just dodging a few orcs who were not under Sauron's control.
.

[Rhod the Red]

"Bilbo and company found themselves at the business end of a few rocks hurled by Stone Giants as they crossed the Misty Mountains, and Gandalf considered the possibility of borrowing one such rock to stop up the entrance to Goblin-Town. Or are you suggesting (as has been suggested before) that the Stone Giants were a product of Bilbo's fertile imagination?"

I'm sorry, I forgot that part. Though giants aren't mentioned to my memory in The Hobbit afterwars nor in The Lord of the Rings.

"I would suggest that you tone down your aggressive style as it is not conducive to reasoned discussion." I would hardly call my style aggressive. I was responsing to a point of view with contrary arguments. If I have used rude words, you will note, to use Legolas' favourite phrase, the Admin. have not edited my posts. Reasoned discissuon has not been halted by me, nor will it.

[davem]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

Actually, there were. Bilbo and company found themselves at the business end of a few rocks hurled by Stone Giants as they crossed the Misty Mountains, and Gandalf considered the possibility of borrowing one such rock to stop up the entrance to Goblin-Town. Or are you suggesting (as has been suggested before) that the Stone Giants were a product of Bilbo's fertile imagination? If so, that's pure speculation and, in any event, contradicts the text as presented.

Interestingly (or not) the Graphic novel of The Hobbit actually depicts the Stone Giants hurling rocks.

[Rhod the Red]

"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."

He didn't assert the storms occur more North, just higher up mountain level. Again, you're infering.

"were not thinking of risks." I didn't say they weren't, Legolas.

"Aragorn uses the word "risk" in the comment at the top of this post." Did I say Aragorn doesn't mention 'risk'? I asserted no one talked about 'risk' regarding the High Pass as a passage to use.

[tom bombariffic]

A good point, Moria was the logical, and safest choice.

However, Tolkien is also careful to emphasize their reluctance right to the end, and they decide to sleep on it, still undecided. In the end, the final decision to go to moria is made of pure necessity, whether they would have chosen to go there or not:

Suddenly Aragorn leapt to his feet. "How the wind howls!" he cried. "It is howling with wolf-voices.The wargs have come west of the mountains!"

"Need we wait until morning then?" said Gandalf. "It is as I said. The hunt is up! Even if we live to see the dawn, who now will wish to journey south by night with the wild wolves on his trail?"

"How far is Moria?" asked Boromir.

This is very clearly a last option, and their delaying of their decision until their hand is forced shows that it was really made out of necessity...whether or not they would have decided to go despite the wolves is another question.

bombariffic