What obstacle did Simpson and Yates face the day after they reached the summit?
a. A deep crevasse blocking their path
b. Seracs obstructing their climbing route
c. A dangerous snowstorm
d. An avalanche blocking the path
b. Seracs obstructing their climbing route
What was the reason Simpson and Yates decided to sleep on the ridge after falling?
a. They ran out of food
b. It was too dark to continue
c. They couldn’t find a suitable snow cave
d. They were too exhausted to climb further
b. It was too dark to continue
What is the definition of "inexplicable"?
a. Easy to understand
b. Unexplainable or mysterious
c. Fully explained
d. Very clear and simple
b. Unexplainable or mysterious
Simpson led the climb up the ice wall, smashing five-foot-long _______ out of the way as he went.
icicles
Why did Simpson and Yates abandon their attempt to climb the loose rock wall?
a. They realized the rock wall was too easy to climb
b. Yates fell and was only saved by his rope
c. They encountered a group of other climbers
d. They found another, easier route
b. Yates fell and was only saved by his rope
What saved Yates when he fell in the Mont Blanc range a year earlier?
a. A rope
b. A belay piton
c. A snow cave
d. A snowstorm
belay piton
What does "cornice" mean in mountaineering?
a. A flat section of ice used for resting
b. A type of climbing gear
c. A ridge of snow or ice that overhangs a mountain face
d. A mountain peak covered in snow
c. A ridge of snow or ice that overhangs a mountain face
What do we call the series of mountains?
a range
Simpson and Yates decided to climb the frozen cascade covered in icicles after their initial route was blocked. T/F
False
What did Simpson and Yates use the last of their gas for the following morning?
a. To cook a meal
b. To make hot drinks
c. To melt snow for water
d. To signal for help
b. To make hot drinks
Simpson dug the snow cave because Yates’s fingers were_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
frostbitten
What is this condition called? (That mountaineers often face)
frostbite
Simpson and Yates were able to descend quickly after reaching the summit, without any further obstacles.
False
Simpson fell through a cornice but was able to climb back up without help. T/F
True
What does "cornices" refer to in the text?
a. Dangerous icy projections over a cliff or ridge
b. Flat areas of snow suitable for walking
c. Soft snow used to create climbing paths
d. A kind of mountain shelter
a. Dangerous icy projections over a cliff or ridge
What is this called?
Belay piton
How did Simpson deal with the ice columns when climbing the ice wall, and what was the consequence of his actions?
Simpson smashed five-foot-long icicles out of his way while climbing the ice wall. As a result, the icicles rained down on Yates, causing him to become angry, and one icicle cracked Simpson's tooth, splitting his lip.
What concerns did Simpson and Yates have the following morning after they used their last gas?
They were concerned about the extent of Yates’s frostbite, and they had no gas left to melt snow for drinking water. They were also worried about the dangerous cornices they had to navigate while descending.
What does the word "flutings" refer to in the context of mountaineering?
a. Thin layers of snow that are safe to walk on
b. Unstable, snowy protrusions found in the mountains
c. Sharp, jagged rocks that are difficult to climb
d. Large, flat areas of ice that climbers use for resting
b. Unstable, snowy hills found in the mountains
ridge of ice on the surface of a glacier is called...
serac