Who won ‘The Summit’? Three players reach the top but one is voted the winner
Note: If you don't yet know who won "The Summit," you might want to stop reading now because spoilers await.
After 14 gruesome days of formidable obstacles and tormenting betrayals, three inexperienced climbers made it up "The Summit."
Season one of the new CBS reality competition series concluded Wednesday night with a finale that included moments of euphoria and devastation.
Premiering in September, "The Summit" follows 16 contestants with no mountaineering experience who must reach a peak in the New Zealand Alps in 14 days.
Throughout their trek, the players must carry cash in their backpacks and reach several checkpoint camps, where they vote each other out. If the remaining contestants fail to reach the top by their deadline, they all go home empty-handed. In every episode the ominous "Mountain Keeper" flies over and drops a bag carrying an ethical and strategic dilemma in the form of a note.
In Wednesday's finale episode, titled "Judgement Day," only four contestants were left as they inched there way toward the top on Day 14. Yet in true "Mountain Keeper" fashion, a spontaneous twist only allowed three to finish what they started.
Here's what you need to know, including the winner explaining to Paste BN how they did it.
Who made it up 'The Summit?
California server Therron Pittman, 29, Louisiana sales executive Nick Morgan, 28, and Columbus Air Force member Punkin Jackson, 33, were the final three who made it to the top of the mountain.
Across the season all three players emphasized a fear of heights that made their mission extra daunting. Before reaching the top the trio wrote heartful messages on a flag dedicated to their loved ones at home. Then they made their final ascent achieving an elevation of 8,481 feet.
At the top Therron, Nick and Punkin each shouted for the whole mountain to hear and indulged in the wintry view of a lifetime.
"We made it!" Punkin yelled.
Who won 'The Summit'?
Nick, Therron and Punkin each completed the journey, earning $250,000 in the process, but there was ultimately one true winner.
Following their rise to "The Summit," Host Manu Bennett revealed that the eliminated 13 contestants would vote for who increases their prize pot to $500,000.
In a 6-5-2 vote, Nick Morgan won "The Summit" after receiving votes from Amy Stephens, Dusty Fisher, Tony Reyes, Jeannie Geyer, Bo Martin and Jennye Stirlen.
Amy made the deciding vote between Nick and Punkin, who were tied at five votes each. Therron only received two votes.
Who was the last person eliminated?
New York Trader Joes worker Jeannie Geyer, 56, was the final person eliminated from the competition, right before nearing the end despite being deeply afraid of heights.
The final challenge was for each contestant to fast-rope from a helicopter across a wide gap. Punkin opted to go first and later read a note from the Mountain's Keeper revealing one person would be left behind. Required to pick the next person, Punkin chose Nick, who then had to choose between the other two.
Nick was immediately crushed by the decision as both Jeannie and Therron were long-term allies. Ultimately, he felt stronger loyalty toward Therron, thus cutting Jeannie's journey short by less than a day.
Who is Nick Morgan?
Nick Morgan is sales executive based in Madisonville, Louisiana and winner of "The Summit."
Following his win, the 29-year-old former described how unbelievable it was to finally come out on top. As a former college baseball athlete he said he always came up in short from never making it to the major leagues or losing in conference championships. He's used to his friends and family telling him to "keep your head up. You did an incredible job" instead of pure congratulations.
"I'm getting a lot of people saying they did not see that coming. And I tell them, 'Trust me, you weren't more surprised than I was,'" Nick told Paste BN on Thursday.
How did Nick Morgan win 'The Summit'?
Nick explained that he managed to win by playing an under-the-radar game early on and then an aggressive strategic game toward the end.
"I was always trying to make sure that I had enough numbers at every single vote to ensure that I had nothing to worry about. So very forward-thinking, and it was so stressful, apart from being physically worn out," he said explaining his successful strategic gameplay. "If there was a day 15, I don't know if we would have made it."
And despite a brutal betrayal that ended Jeannie's game, Nick said there's no longer any hard feelings between the two. He added that Jeannie FaceTime called him right before the finale aired to say that "she loves me and she knows how tough of a decision it was."
Will there be season two of 'The Summit'?
It remains unclear whether "The Summit" will return for season two as CBS has not officially announced a renewal as of Thursday.
This story was updated to add new information.