Where did Neal Beidleman's group get off track while searching for the camp on the descent?

Where did Neal Beidleman's group get off track while searching for the camp on the descent?

• A. South Col
• B. Khumbu Icefall
• C. North Col
• D. East Col

Answer: (A)

The situation tests understanding of the descent route on the south side and where climbers would look for their high camp. Beidleman’s group was coming down from the summit along the Southeast Ridge toward the high camp at the South Col. In harsh weather and fading light, they misread the terrain and wandered off the intended path near the South Col while searching for the camp. The South Col is the high saddle where the south-side camp is located, so this is the point where they lost the correct direction on the descent. The other options refer to parts of the mountain that aren’t on the typical descent path from the summit to the south-side camp, so they don’t fit this scenario.

The situation tests understanding of the descent route on the south side and where climbers would look for their high camp. Beidleman’s group was coming down from the summit along the Southeast Ridge toward the high camp at the South Col. In harsh weather and fading light, they misread the terrain and wandered off the intended path near the South Col while searching for the camp. The South Col is the high saddle where the south-side camp is located, so this is the point where they lost the correct direction on the descent. The other options refer to parts of the mountain that aren’t on the typical descent path from the summit to the south-side camp, so they don’t fit this scenario.