What reason does Krakauer give for believing they might not be able to make a summit push at the scheduled time?

What reason does Krakauer give for believing they might not be able to make a summit push at the scheduled time?

• A. The Montenegrins were heading toward the South Summit and were struggling in the wind, and then they reported they had turned around.
• B. Weather forecasts predicted storms.
• C. There was insufficient oxygen available.
• D. The route was blocked by an avalanche.

Answer: (A)

In this moment, Krakauer is focusing on pace and safety as the deciding factors for a timed summit attempt. The plan assumes climbers can maintain a workable pace and reach the summit within the allotted window. When he notes that the Montenegrin climbers were heading toward the South Summit, struggled with strong wind, and then turned back, he’s highlighting a real-time signal: conditions are too tough for a clean push, and even capable climbers are retreating. That retreat suggests the scheduled push might not be feasible or safe for the team as a whole, given the wind and the route's demands. Weather forecasts may have mentioned storms at some point, but Krakauer’s specific concern here is the actual behavior of climbers on the mountain—the wind, their difficulty, and their decision to turn around—which directly casts doubt on meeting the planned summit time. The other possibilities—oxygen limits or an avalanche blocking the path—aren’t the reason he cites in this moment.

In this moment, Krakauer is focusing on pace and safety as the deciding factors for a timed summit attempt. The plan assumes climbers can maintain a workable pace and reach the summit within the allotted window. When he notes that the Montenegrin climbers were heading toward the South Summit, struggled with strong wind, and then turned back, he’s highlighting a real-time signal: conditions are too tough for a clean push, and even capable climbers are retreating. That retreat suggests the scheduled push might not be feasible or safe for the team as a whole, given the wind and the route's demands.

Weather forecasts may have mentioned storms at some point, but Krakauer’s specific concern here is the actual behavior of climbers on the mountain—the wind, their difficulty, and their decision to turn around—which directly casts doubt on meeting the planned summit time. The other possibilities—oxygen limits or an avalanche blocking the path—aren’t the reason he cites in this moment.