The Hobbit - Chapter 06 - Out of the Frying-Pan Into the Fire

[littlemanpoet]

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.

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.

[deal_with_it]

Why didn't the Orcs of Moria use the same tactic against the Fellowship when they escaped out the Eastern Door? There had to be other passages besides just the Bridge? maybe not

[Tuor in Gondolin]

There had to be other passages besides just the Bridge? maybe not

I think not, unless they were "magic" doors only discovered
and/or opened by dwarf passwords.