Bard and some of the nimblest of men and elves climbed to the height of the Eastern shoulder to gain a view of the North. Soon they could see the lands before the Mountain's feet black with a hurrying multitude. –The Hobbit

Players cannot advance from this stage unless stage 3 and stage 4 are complete.

Forced: If there is no progress on this stage at the end of the round, each player must discard 1 random card from his hand.