first hop to entry node, encrypted? sorry for trivial question

[Jefferson Iblis]

On Nov 6, 2007 8:55 AM, Florian Reitmeir <florian at reitmeir.org> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> On Tue, 06 Nov 2007, Jefferson Iblis wrote:
>
> > I've heard variously that Tor does encrypt my communications with my
> > entry node, and also that it does not. Which is true?
>
> Communication between:
>         Your Host -> Tor Entry Node
>         is encrypted
>

Thanks. Then I'm a little perplexed about why it's preferable to use a
limited number of entry guards to avoid traffic analysis.

If the connection between me and the entry guard is encrypted, and all
I'm telling the entry guard is "please pass this encrypted stream to
next specified tor server", what is the danger? Can the entry guard
see my traffic, or do they just see another layer of encryption?