CBS's 'The Summit' Premieres with High Stakes and Dramatic Challenges

The new reality series features contestants climbing a New Zealand mountain for a $1 million prize, with unexpected twists and eliminations.

In 'The Summit,' contestants must work together to climb a mountain in the Southern Alps of New Zealand while carrying a $1 million prize divided among them.
The group faces various obstacles and must vote out members at checkpoint camps; failure to reach the summit in 14 days means no prize for anyone.
The first episode saw 16 contestants begin the journey, but one was medically evacuated, and another was voted out, reducing the prize pool to $937,500.
Executive Producer Kevin Lee explained the complex process of selecting a suitable mountain that is both challenging and safe for the non-professional climbers.
Host Manu Bennett emphasized the rigorous safety measures and the evolving dynamics of both the contestants and the production team throughout the competition.