Misty Mountains - History

History

The Misty Mountains were created by Melkor who wanted to make it difficult for Oromë, who often rode across Middle-earth hunting, to pass. They were far taller in those days and had a more dreaded appearance.

The High Pass (also called the Pass of Imladris and Cirith Forn en Andrath (S. 'cirith'=pass, 'forn'=north, 'andrath'=long climb) was first created before the First Age by Oromë in order to allow for a crossing of the mountains by the Eldar. Later in the First Age the High Pass was used by the Dwarves, who connected their roads (the Great East Road and the Men-i-Naugrim through Mirkwood) with it. There are actually two passes at this location. The lower pass is more prone to being blocked by Orcs, hence most travellers used the higher pass outside of those rare occasions when the Orcs were suppressed.

The great Dwarf realm of Khazad-dûm was once established beneath the Misty Mountains, but the unearthing of the Balrog (Durin's Bane) in T.A. 1980 led to the desertion of this realm by Dwarves, though Orcs and other creatures came to dwell under the Misty Mountains.

In the Second Age the High Pass was used by the army of Gil-galad and Elendil when they marched to Mordor in the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. After this war Isildur was slain by Orcs watching the way towards the pass.

During the later Third Age the Pass became dangerous again because of the Orcs. Only with the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, which nearly wiped out all Orcs of the mountains, did it become safe again. Nevertheless by the time of the Quest of Erebor the goblins of Goblin Town had burrowed their way back to it, and eventually captured Bilbo Baggins and Thorin Oakenshield's Dwarf company.

The Fellowship of the Ring tried to cross the Redhorn Pass (after rejecting the High Pass leading to Rhovanion as being watched by the Enemy, and the Gap of Rohan as taking the Fellowship too close to Isengard), but a blizzard forced it to go under the mountain instead of over it. The Nine Walkers faced the Balrog, Durin's Bane, that dwelt in the deserted realm of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf fell with the Balrog into the uttermost depths of Moria and fought the Balrog all the way up the Endless Stair, finally slaying it by throwing it from the peak of Celebdil, but sacrificing his own life in doing so.