What did Krakauer say about the challenges of hazardous climbing?

• A. The ice cap runs into a glacier and spills onto a plateau; uncertain path; you are blind in snow
• B. Climbing is easy with the right gear
• C. Hazards are negligible if you avoid storms
• D. The mountain laughs at us and nothing is dangerous

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is that the danger in hazardous climbing comes from the terrain and conditions themselves—uncertainty in the route and limited visibility—rather than simply from having gear or avoiding storms. Krakauer emphasizes how alpine terrain can present an ever-changing, treacherous landscape: ice and rock interact to create unstable features, routes aren’t clearly marked, and whiteout conditions can leave climbers “blind in snow,” making navigation and decision-making extremely risky. This captures why high-altitude climbs remain perilous even for experienced climbers, because danger is built into the environment, not something that can be eliminated by preparation alone. The other statements don’t fit because gear doesn’t erase the hazardous realities, storms aren’t the sole source of danger, and the idea that “the mountain laughs at us” is more metaphorical and not a precise description of the practical risks Krakauer discusses.