Which factor besides permit restrictions contributed to keeping Peak's climb secret?

• A. They hoped to avoid media attention.
• B. They didn't want to waste resources on Peak.
• C. They feared the weather would change.
• D. They wanted to protect the local villagers from disruption.

Answer: (B)

Resource management is the main idea here. Keeping the climb secret beyond permit rules helps control costs and avoid the extra logistics that come with public attention—more guides, gear, safety measures, and contingency planning all ramp up expenses and complexity. If the plan is to stretch limited resources, staying under the radar makes the project feasible and easier to manage. Other motives like avoiding media attention, fearing weather, or protecting villagers are related concerns, but they don’t address the practical impact on the expedition’s budget and logistics as directly. So the choice about not wanting to waste resources on Peak best explains why secrecy was maintained.