Why did Hasdrubal take same path Through Alps Hannibal Did

[Pisces Axxxxx]

We all know how Hasdrubal force intended to be sent as reinforcements to Hannibal was slaughtered by the Romans who now were better prepared and left defenses at the Alps. The Romans were not going to be taken by surprise this time so when Hasdrubal reached Rome, the Romans witht heir new defenses at the exists of the Alps were awaiting battle.

 

The rest is history and Hasdrubal was slaughtered.

 

When I first heard of this years ago during a documentary on the History Channel, my dad commented "Hasdrubal was stupid! He should have known that the Romans were not going to fall for the same trick again and were not going to leave the entrance to Rome from the Alps unprotected!!!".

 

Indeed I do wonder. Common Sense should have told you that the Enemies were now aware of this opening and that they weren't going to let you exploit it once again.

 

So why did Hasdrubal take the same path Hannibal did? Didn't he at least prepare for the fac that the Romans weren't going to stupidly leave the Alps unprotected this time?

[Pompieus]

There was no alternative to the Alpine route as the Romans controlled the sea lanes and Sicily.

 

Actually Hasdrubal passed the Alps without much difficulty and recruited Gauls and Ligurians in the Po valley. When he moved southeast along the north slope of the Appenines, the Romans intercepted and defeated him at the Battle of the Metaurus River. The Metaurus is in the Italian province of Marche (then Picenum) North of the Appenines but well south of the Alps.

Edited January 10, 2013 by Pompieus

[Virgil61]

There was no alternative to the Alpine route as the Romans controlled the sea lanes and Sicily.

 

...The Metaurus is in the Italian province of Marche (then Picenum) North of the Appenines but well south of the Alps.

 

Indeed it's 1/3 a ways down the country from the Alps. Furthermore it's on the Adriatic (east coast) rather than the west coast LIgurian or Tyyhenian Seas which were nearer the probable route of march entrance from the mountain passes. The Roman response was ad hoc rather than a meticulous plan with one consul doing an overnight forced march to join armies with the other consul