High Pass

Far southward of the Black Gate, the main route into Mordor from the west was the foul valley of Imlad Morgul, watched over by the tower of Minas Morgul. This was not, however, the only pass through the mountains of Ephel Dúath. Another path, more difficult and dangerous, led up through the heights of the mountains far above the valley. This High Pass climbed to a cleft in the heights of the mountains, a cleft that had in earlier times been known simply as Cirith Dúath, but in later years became known as Cirith Ungol, the cleft of the spider.

Reaching the High Pass was no easy task, and involved climbing the worn and ancient Stairs of Cirith Ungol, cut into the face of the mountain rock. The cleft in the peaks at the top of the pass was occupied by a monstrous spider, the spider from whom the cleft took the name of Cirith Ungol. This was Shelob, who made her Lair in those remote heights to capture those who wandered into her webs. Among these were the Orcs who held the Tower of Cirith Ungol, a high tower raised near the cleft. That tower had originally been built by the Gondorians to watch over the pass out of Mordor, but in the later Third Age it was occupied by Orcs.

It was over this High Pass that Gollum led the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins and his companion Sam Gamgee during the War of the Ring. Gollum was already familiar with Shelob, and he planned to ensnare the Hobbits within her webs and thus recover the Ring. His plan failed, and (with great difficulty) Frodo and Sam were able to escape the dangers of the High Pass and make their way into the Dark Land that lay beyond.