Journey to the Lonely Mountain

Study Notes

The journey begins as they ride up the Long Lake and pass into the river
They travel up the river, drawing nearer to the Lonely Mountain, which towers grim and tall before them
After three days, they draw into the left or western bank and disembark, where they are joined by horses and provisions sent to meet them
The men of the town refuse to stay with them, fearing the dragon's presence
The company packs what they can onto ponies and stores the rest under a tent, as they are in a desolate and empty land

The land grows bleak and barren, with little grass and only broken, blackened stumps where trees once stood
The company reaches the skirts of the mountain, where they set up their first camp on the western side of the Great Southern Spurs
Thorin sends out a scouting expedition to spy out the land, comprising Balin, Fili, Kili, and Bilbo
They march under the gray and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill, where they see the ruins of ancient houses in the valley of Dale

The company begins their search for the hidden door on the western slopes of the mountain
Bilbo, Fili, and Kili search the western spurs and find rough steps leading upwards
They discover a narrow track that leads to the top of the southern ridge and eventually to a small, grassy bay with a narrow ledge
The entrance to the Secret Door is found, but it is smooth and upright, with no sign of post, lintel, or threshold

The company is excited to have found the path, but they soon become disheartened as they fail to open the door
They try to use picks and tools, but they splinter and char, and the steel heads break or bend
Bilbo sits on the "doorstep" (a small grassy space between the wall and the opening), thinking and staring away west through the opening
The dwarves become despondent, and their spirits fall as they fail to open the door

The journey begins as they ride up the Long Lake and pass into the river, drawing nearer to the Lonely Mountain
They travel up the river for three days, then disembark on the left or western bank
They are joined by horses and provisions sent to meet them, but the men of the town refuse to stay with them, fearing the dragon's presence

The land grows bleak and barren with little grass and only broken, blackened stumps where trees once stood
The company sets up their first camp on the western side of the Great Southern Spurs
Thorin sends out a scouting expedition comprising Balin, Fili, Kili, and Bilbo to spy out the land
They march under the gray and silent cliffs to the feet of Ravenhill, where they see the ruins of ancient houses in the valley of Dale

The company searches for the hidden door on the western slopes of the mountain
Bilbo, Fili, and Kili find rough steps leading upwards and discover a narrow track that leads to the top of the southern ridge
They eventually find a small, grassy bay with a narrow ledge, where the entrance to the Secret Door is located
The entrance is found, but it is smooth and upright, with no sign of post, lintel, or threshold

The company is excited to have found the path, but they soon become disheartened as they fail to open the door
They try to use picks and tools, but they splinter and char, and the steel heads break or bend
Bilbo sits on the "doorstep", thinking and staring away west through the opening
The dwarves become despondent, and their spirits fall as they fail to open the door