October 15, 2002

Re: The High Pass
Brett C.

Peck, I believe the reason the High Pass was not used by the Fellowship was that it was known to be patrolled by Orcs, who had multuiplied again in the sixty years since the Battle of Five Armies. I believe Gloin says in the book that it is only by the bravery of the Beornings that the road west through Mirkwood is kept open, such is the threat. Also Galadriel says that Gandalf clearly wished to bring the Fellowship by way of Lothlorien, and using the High pass would have meant approaching Lorien from the north on the East side of the mountains, were the wargs were known to prowl. Of course in the book the wargs had already made their way into Hollin because of Saruman's treachery, but this was not known for certain when the company set out.