Hermounts was a wilderness to the west and north of the Nephite lands, described as a place “infested by wild and ravenous beasts.” It is mentioned in the context of a pivotal conflict that occurred around 87 B.C. During this time, a faction known as the Amlicites, who were dissenters from the Nephite government, joined forces with a Lamanite army to wage battle against the Nephite forces led by Alma2 near the hill Amnihu and the valley of Gideon. Following a series of engagements, the Nephites saw success in repelling their foes. The Amlicites and their Lamanite allies retreated, ultimately being pursued by the Nephites. The chase ended as the enemy forces reached Hermounts, where many were either slain or scattered, succumbing to their wounds, starvation, or being “devoured” by the ominous fauna of the region (Alma 2:36–38). The events surrounding Hermounts are detailed enough to provide a sense of the geography in relation to established Nephite territories, and the area signifies a margin beyond which was considered beyond Nephite control and civilization. Hermounts thus signifies the perilous nature of the wilderness areas adjacent to the more heavily settled regions of Nephite habitation and the perils associated with warfare and retreat into such seldom-traveled lands.