Once in the trees the trio climbed up the slope to get higher on the ridge, as they wanted to be above any orcs that might be watching the valley. They crossed no trails or tracks and it appeared that this part of the ridge was undisturbed. So they worked around the edge of the cliff face and turned east moving further into the small valley.
Their earlier decision now forced them to climb over an increasing numbers of large boulders or around the numerous trees until they finally reached the end of the southern ridge.
