Alternate routes of Fellowship from Rivendell to Mordor

[Tuor of Gondolin]

Since first reading LOTR and looking over the ME map I've speculated on several seemingly viable paths from rivendell to Mordor.
1- following Bilbo's route to Esgaroth, then River Running to the Sea of Rhun forest or mountain area and then using horses for a quick (obviously dangerous) dash to the Ered Lithui (perhaps disguised as eastern cavalry?

2- Go west to the Grey havens. Borrow a ship from Cirdan (no problem for Gandalf) and hug the coast down past Isen. (obviously too dangerous to go further because of Corsairs of Umbar). Fellowship then splits, Gandalf (with Merry, Pippin, Legolas and Gimli to contain Saruman and help Rohan, while the rest head across South Gondor (perhaps helped by Prince of Dol Amroth. [Gollum would meet up with them in Ithilien?]. Given that Saruman had no navy, wouldn't that be the safest and quickest way to approach Mordor?
P. S. I'm sur Tolkien could have worked in Lothlorien and Moria in some way.

[Rosie Gamgee]

I understand that there are different routes to Mordor, but (if you'll pardon my asking) why are you bringing up the question?

Personally, I want to know why the Fellowship went through Moria if Gandalf knew the obviously safer tunnels of the goblins that Thorin and Co. used (albeit not on purpose) in the Hobbit.

[Sheeana]

http://www.ooblick.com/text/tomordor/

[Valandil]

Sheeana - HILARIOUS link!

Rosie - I don't know if the high pass and goblin tunnels would really have been considered that safe - doubtful they were entirely cleared of orcs and other creepy things. Also - the objective was to the south, and the fellowship had already traveled over two weeks south from Rivendell. They were making for the Redhorn Pass - but we know what happened there. Moria became the choice of necessity, since they were being pursued by Saruman's critters (birds & wolves).

[Rían]

Funny link! and the Tengwar is a pretty close attempt at spelling "Mapquest", for those that don't read Tengwar.

[IronParrot]

I think the big question - and it's been brought up before - is why the Eagles didn't just carry Frodo over to the Mountain of Fire and drop him off right then and there.

One of the concerns I have with LOTR is that the Eagles seem to appear only when all too conveniently needed; they are somewhat of a deus ex machina device, if you think about it. I don't think this undermines the book at all, but it does raise some interesting questions.

[Elfhelm]

I don't recall... Why didn't the idea of Cirith Ungol occur to other people? Wouldn't Boromir have known about this "back door" idea?

Sheeana's link is a riot! (I'll try not to mention that they never planned on destroying the One Ring until the Council of Elrond... oops... why do I take jokes seriously????)

For the original question ... wasn't there some sort of fighting going on along the river to the east there, maybe near Gladden Fields or some such, that precluded them crossing the mountians that far north?

[IronParrot]

I don't recall... Why didn't the idea of Cirith Ungol occur to other people? Wouldn't Boromir have known about this "back door" idea?

I think there's one passage that says Gandalf did know of Cirith Ungol and would have warned the hobbits of its significance. In short, taking that path was probably discounted as a realistic possibility.

Even if Boromir knew about taking the back route (and I don't see that he would have) I don't think he was ever that gung-ho about taking the Ring into Mordor at all, so why would he bring it up?

[Elfhelm]

Thanks, IP.

I think the fighting I was refering to to the east of the mountains had something to do with the "Necromancer's" orcs watching the river, and eventually it would result in the Lorien elves doing battle there. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

[Rosie Gamgee]

Originally posted by Valandil
Sheeana - HILARIOUS link!

Rosie - I don't know if the high pass and goblin tunnels would really have been considered that safe - doubtful they were entirely cleared of orcs and other creepy things. Also - the objective was to the south, and the fellowship had already traveled over two weeks south from Rivendell. They were making for the Redhorn Pass - but we know what happened there. Moria became the choice of necessity, since they were being pursued by Saruman's critters (birds & wolves).

I know that. I was thinking that they might have planned to go that way in the first place. It obviously didn't take Gandalf, Bilbo, and Thorin and Co. too long to get through the goblin tunnels in the Hobbit, and certainly any way they went was frought with peril, the Gap of Rohan included. So why not slip through the goblin's tunnels and save time instead of going all the way around the Mountains (plan no. 1, Gap of Rohan) or over Carahdras (spl? plan no. 2), or going under them (plan no. 3).

Speaking of directions and plans, does it not seem interesting that it was, in fact, Gandalf's idea to go through the Mines of Moria?

I read somewhere about the Eagles no taking the hobbits to Mount Doom. It said that the Eagles would resent being Middle Earth's taxi service. I think the Eagles are somewhat undependable, kind of like Galadriel. Good guys one minute, and the next they want to eat you for dinner. I think maybe they're like Beorn, where they can get very dangerous on occasions simply because it's in their nature.