I think that the whole thing involving death statistics is problematic.
The problem is, that those people who are already at the bottom of the hill, about to hike up, are committed in their minds.
At that point, it is going to be very difficult to divert them from the path, or from what they are doing, and every step up the trail their momentum becomes stronger.
I think it is remarkable that someone would turn around in the vicinity of the needles, no matter what the time, weather, or how they are feeling.
There is a combination of physical exhaustion, combined with hypoxia (EVEN if acclimatized), that numbs rational thinking.
I will say that several year back, when I and my colleagues were stationed at the trailhead for two weeks interviewing attemptees, we ended giving a LOT of advice to people. I distinctly remember one middle aged guy who was going on a multi-day attempt the next day, and was on Diamox. He was having symptoms making him miserable, that were clearly from taking too high a dose. I suggested he cut back, which he did. The next day, I saw him before he left, and his symptoms had resolved, and I interviewed him 3 days later, having summitted happily.
So maybe the lesson of that short story is that a person stationed at the trailhead could do a lot of good? Sure is an intensive use of resources, though.
Especially when one considers that a better expert in almost all ways resides 100 yards away, in the store, and will graciously answer any question.
