Which I believe was also considered:

And when they had reckoned up all their strength and taken thought the journeys they should make and the roads they should choose, Imrahil suddenly laughed aloud. ‘Surely,’ he cried, ‘this is the greatest jest in all the history of Gondor: that we should ride with seven thousands, scarce as many as the vanguard of its army in the days of its power, to assail the mountains and the impenetrable gate of the Black Land![…]’