They are notorious for being difficult to traverse and caravans avoid it completely during winter months. Shameen and Shema were on the last of a caravan that traveled west towards the mountains for many months. The icy winds blowing through the pass through the mountains chill to the bone. It is difficult for those climbing to breath the thin mountain air. Snowfall makes passage between the Dragon Smoke Mountains impossible. During the winter Caravans travel between Spielburg and Wien have to return to Wien once the snow falls, as they cannot move to places beyond.