Why did Peak choose to go back down the north side? Why did Sun-jo have to go down the south side?

• A. To avoid others knowing he had summited, and Sun-jo had to go south to return to his home country to avoid arrest by Shek.
• B. To take advantage of better weather on that side.
• C. To follow a recommended route precisely.
• D. To honor a local climbing tradition.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is safety through discretion. Peak wants the climb to stay low-profile, so he descends the north side to avoid drawing attention to a possible summit by others—kept quiet, the achievement won’t trigger legal trouble, safety risks, or unwanted scrutiny for himself or his family. Sun-jo’s move to the south is about escaping danger and finding safety by returning to his own country, where he can avoid being arrested or controlled by Shek, the antagonist pursuing him. The other reasons—better weather, strictly following a route, or honoring a tradition—don’t fit the situation or the characters’ urgent needs for secrecy and escape.