Final answer:
The characters in the stories use various methods to navigate the treacherous mountain, including finding a movable stone door, following their instincts, climbing steep inclines, and navigating narrow gorges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dwarves and the hobbit were able to find their way up the treacherous mountain through a variety of methods. In the first passage, the hobbit finds a movable stone door and enters into an open plain surrounded by mountains. In the second passage, the group of characters wander through a maze of rocks, climb, descend, and follow their instincts, eventually ending up at a cave.
In the third passage, Venters climbs a steep incline and discovers a hidden valley. In the fourth passage, the characters find a narrow gorge and climb up to a stone bridge where they can see Balancing Rock. In the fifth passage, Venters and Bess climb a narrow gorge to reach a higher terrace. Each passage describes a different method or route taken by the characters to navigate the mountain.