Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

[gamegie]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Haunting Spirit
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When Frodo and Sam climb up Mount Doom, they both feel the weight of the ring dragging it 'I suppose' towards Sauron, at least not towards the Mountain.
Sam is the greatest support to Frodo by forgoing his food ration and keeping him going mentally.

I don't know I you guys have ever climbed up a steep mountain, but it is hard even without food or a ring weighing you down.

Any views about Mount Doom or Mordor in general.

Charming Humble Hobbit</p>

[The Barrow-Wight]

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Re: Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

Very true, gamegie. Mountain climbing can be tough work even when you are in top shape. Especially when no trail is used. Does anyone have any idea at what kind of elevation the slopes of mt Doom were? There's a big difference between, say, 2000 feet and 12000 feet (though I don't think the mountains of Mordor were over 12,000, as they weren't noted as 'snow-covered'.

The Barrow-Wight (RKittle)
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[Voronwe]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Haunting Spirit
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Re: Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

I remember being very suprised at Mount Doom's height, which was mentioned as being about 4500ft above Gorgoroth. This is a little higher than the tallest of the mountains here in Scotland, which I've climbed, and I can tell you it's no easy task, even with a good path and enough food! It always amazed me how Sam managed to carry Frodo up most of the way even after days of journeying in Mordor.


-Voronwë
"voyaging the Dark behind the world, a glimmering and fugitive star."</p>

[burrahobbit]

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Re: Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

No. I would have died. Then everyone else would have died. It would have been a mess. Fangorn Forest is more my cup of tea. But I don't like tea, so I guess that isn't such a good example.

What's a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?</p>

[Gwaihir the Windlord]

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Re: Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

I believe that though Mt. Doom was 4500 ft., it was very wide and not particularly steep. Even so, it's sheer height makes for hours, days of painful climbing.

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[gamegie]

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Re: Would you fare in Mordor/Mount Doom?

As to the height of Mt Doom, well it might well be 4500ft (1500 m), which in itself is not very high at all. But the what amazes me more than anything else is the fact that the hobbits climbed it without much food or drink and after enduring the bad treatment from the orcs for the sake of Frodo.

They were like under a transe, they had to carry their mission out. And good for the Middle Age too.

Lets not forget that Mt Doom seems in the book all the more impressive because Hobbits are small people.


Charming Humble Hobbit</p>

[Burzdol]

I think I might have made it half way (if that) up the Mt. I have climbed some pretty large mts., but that was on a full stomach and no magic ring to weigh me down.

I think it would be harder for a hobbit. Places where a man or elf could reach, might not work for a hobbit. In places like these, they would have to go around to get above the obstacle. That's what I think.

Burzdol

[Finwe]

I think Amon Amarth could have been fairly steep, since it was a volcano and all. I think that it would look the same that it did in the LotR movies (by PJ). All of the clouds/red misty stuff in the sky could have been visible over the Ered Lithui, but I don't think the mountain itself would be.
Even if the Mountain itself were large, Frodo and Sam wouldn't have had to climb all the way to the top. They just had to get to the Sammath Naur, which were probably about a third of the way up. As for Sam carrying Frodo, it says in Return of the King that "a last burst of strength may have been gifted to him," and considering all that Frodo's been through, it might have been easy for Sam to carry him up.

[Yavanna228]

I agree with what Finwe said about Sammath Naur obviously not being at the top of Mount Doom. In RotK it says that the sides of the mountain were rugged, but not sheer, so maybe that helped somewhat in their ascent. I think that the climbing of the mountain was the truest test of the wills of Frodo and especially Sam, and when they came to the end of themselves, a path amazingly appeared, making the rest of the trek 'easier.'
I myself have only climbed one mountain, and that was done in health and fair spirits. I really admire Sam's efforts, and can only wonder if my mettle would have proved as strong.
Peace

[The Saucepan Man]

Personally, I would have run a mile at the first sign of Shelob. [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] And I couldn't have been doing with any mountain climbing. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

~Saucepan the Pathetic Ringbearer~

[mark12_30]

Saucie, I'd have collapsed from heatstroke. Very early on. And I'm not so much bothered by the idea of spiders as orcs. Yeeee!

[Finwe]

I'm also assuming that I'm intelligent enough to elude the Ringwraiths for as long as Frodo did, and manage to get into Mordor undetected by Sauron or his Orcs. But knowing my desire for world domination, I don't think I'd get very far before being tempted to claim the Ring.

I haven't done much of Mountain climbing, so I dont know 'bout that aspect.But I'd certainly have lost my pateince and pity for Gollum, unlike Frodo.Also, the very thought of being in the tunnel leading to Shelob's Lair for hours at edge, without light or food, would've killed me.

Way to go, Hobbits!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Since this question has more to do with experience and opinion than book discussion, I'm moving it to the Novices and Newcomers forum - please continue to read and post there.