What happened to Peak during the swing at the end of the second step?

• A. He swung, was dangling, twisted his back against the wall, and drove the front spikes of his crampons.
• B. He swung safely and reached the top without incident.
• C. He slipped and fell back down to a lower ledge.
• D. He lost his grip and was lowered by a rope.

Answer: (A)

During the swing at the end of the second step, Peak’s momentum carries him outward toward the wall. He doesn’t land cleanly on a ledge; instead, he ends up hanging, twisting his back into the rock to stabilize himself. That motion drives the front spikes of his crampons into the rock, giving him a bite that temporarily holds him in place. This sequence—swinging, dangling, twisting against the wall, and driving the front crampon spikes—fits the described moment of how a climber uses momentum to secure a hold on a vertical ascent. The other outcomes don’t match what’s happening in that instant: a safe top finish, a slip and fall, or being lowered by a rope aren’t what’s depicted.