There is also a psychological battle. Climbers know that turning around may mean abandoning a goal they have spent years preparing and thousands of dollars pursuing. This can create an enormous temptation to continue even when their bodies are telling them to stop. And the summit is only halfway through the journey.
Many climbers make the mistake of thinking that reaching the top means they have succeeded. In reality, they still have to descend. Their oxygen levels may be low, their energy reserves nearly empty, and their concentration severely reduced. A large number of serious accidents happen during the descent because fatigue can become overwhelming.
