The Attempt on Caradhras

The Attempt on Caradhras is the failed crossing of the Redhorn Gate by the Fellowship of the Ring, a decisive event that forces the Company to abandon the mountain route and turn instead toward the hidden and perilous road through Moria. The attempt is marked by a supernatural blizzard, falling stones, and a palpable hostility from the mountain itself, which the Dwarves name Caradhras the Cruel. The failure reshapes the journey's geography and strategy, leading directly to the confrontation with the Watcher in the Water and the Balrog, and it exposes the limits of Gandalf's power against elemental malice that is not in league with Sauron.

The Approach and the Storm

The Company set out from Hollin under Gandalf's guidance, aiming to cross the Misty Mountains by the Redhorn Gate, a high pass under the far side of Caradhras. The weather was initially clear, but as they climbed, the wind shifted to the north-east and a bitter cold descended. Snow began to fall, at first a soft touch on Frodo's face, then a blinding blizzard that filled the air and swirled into their eyes. The path became treacherous, winding under sheer cliffs on the left and a deep ravine on the right. The hobbits, bent nearly double, struggled to keep going, and even Boromir found it hard to maintain his footing. Gimli grumbled as he trudged, and the Company halted as if by unspoken agreement when they heard eerie noises in the darkness—shrill cries and wild howls of laughter that seemed to come from the mountain itself. Stones began to fall from above, whistling past their heads or crashing onto the path beside them, and a dull rumble announced the rolling of great boulders from hidden heights.

The Hostility of the Mountain

Boromir declared that the stones were aimed at them, and Aragorn, while calling the sounds the wind, acknowledged that many evil and unfriendly things in the world have purposes of their own and are not in league with Sauron. Gimli stated that Caradhras was called the Cruel and had an ill name long before rumour of Sauron had been heard in those lands. The Company huddled against the cliff, which faced south and leaned out a little at the bottom, offering some protection from the northerly wind and falling stones. Bill the pony stood patiently before the hobbits, screening them a little, but the drifting snow soon rose above his hocks. A great sleepiness came over Frodo, and he sank into a warm, hazy dream, hearing Bilbo's voice, until Boromir lifted him out of a nest of snow and declared that the halflings would die if they remained. Gandalf gave them each a mouthful of miruvor, the cordial of Imladris, which revived them, but the snow did not relent.

The Fire and the Retreat

Boromir argued for a fire, saying the choice was now between fire and death. Though they had brought wood, it passed the skill of Elf or even Dwarf to strike a flame that would hold in the swirling wind. At last Gandalf took a hand, holding a faggot aloft and thrusting the end of his staff into it with a word of command: Naur an edraith ammen! A great spout of green and blue flame sprang out, and the wood flared. Gandalf remarked that he had written 'Gandalf is here' in signs that all could read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin. The fire burned merrily, but the wood was fast consumed, and the snow still fell. When the last faggot was thrown on, Aragorn noted that the night was getting old and the dawn was not far off. Boromir stepped out of the circle and saw that the snow was growing less and the wind quieter. At last the snow stopped altogether, and a dim light began to grow, revealing a silent, shrouded world where the path they had trodden was altogether lost. Gimli shook his head and said Caradhras had not forgiven them and had more snow yet to fling at them if they went on. To this all agreed, and their retreat began.

The Descent and the Aftermath

The retreat was difficult, with snow lying many feet deep and great drifts against the cliff. Legolas, wearing only light shoes that made little imprint, ran ahead and reported that the snow grew less on the other side of a great drift. Boromir and Aragorn forced a lane through the drift, carrying the hobbits. As they passed through, a deep rumble rolled down a fall of stones and slithering snow, blocking the path behind them. Gimli cried that the malice of the mountain seemed expended, satisfied that the invaders had been beaten off. The snow became steadily more shallow as they went down, and they stood once more on the flat shelf where they had felt the first flakes the night before. Far below, black specks circled in the air—the birds again, watching. Gandalf said they must go down at once, and as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, a cold wind flowed down behind them. Caradhras had defeated them.

The Council and the New Road

That evening, weary and dispirited, the Company halted. Gandalf called a council and stated that they had no choice but to go on or return to Rivendell. Frodo said he could not return without shame unless there was indeed no other way and they were already defeated. Gandalf agreed that to go back was to admit defeat and face worse defeat to come. He then revealed the road he had thought of from the beginning: the Mines of Moria. Aragorn was against it, but the pass over the mountains had at least been tried. Boromir argued for the Gap of Rohan, but Gandalf said the Ring must not come near Isengard and that the Gap was closed to them while they went with the Bearer. The longer road south would take too long and be watched by both Saruman and the Enemy. He advised that they should go neither over the mountains nor round them, but under them—a road the Enemy would least expect. Gimli eagerly agreed to tread the path with Gandalf, and Aragorn, though the memory of Moria was very evil, said he would follow. Boromir would not go unless the vote of the whole Company was against him, and Legolas did not wish to go. Frodo begged that there be no vote until they had slept on it, but the decision was sealed when Aragorn leapt to his feet, crying that the howling wind was wolf-voices and that the Wargs had come west of the Mountains. The hunt was up, and the Company could no longer journey south by night with wild wolves on their trail. The way to Moria was now the only path left.