Ever since they announced they found the remains of Sandy Irvine who disappeared in 1924 with George Mallory I've been all into that expedition. Lots of stuff I never knew and some interesting conspiracy theories that the Chinese found them during expeditions in the 70s. But the real question is, did they reach the summit? No definitive proof had yet been uncovered. Mallory's body, found in 1999 was missing a photograph of his wife he declared he would
Leave on the summit, and Irvines (partial) remains offer no new clues. The hopes of finding a Kodak pocket camera and being able to develop 100 years old film is what everybody wants to find, but some believe the Chinese found the rest of Irvine and the camera in the 70s and are keeping it a secret. Either way, cool story and the balls it took and still takes to tackle that monster.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/sandy-irvine-body-found-everest

The majority, over 80%, of climbing deaths occur on the decent. It's usually a result of summit fever causing people to push beyond their limits to reach the summit and then not having enough left in the tank to get back down safely. That they had made several other trips up towards the summit and turned around for various reasons makes me think they pushed to the summit and then fell and died on the return trip.

Unless the Chinese have something hidden we likely will never know. If that camera still exists on the mountain it's likely been crushed by shifting ice and ruined the film. So I'm not putting a lot of stock in that idea.

For me the most amazing thing is the comparison of their equipment versus modern equipment. It's amazing what they were doing with little more than what you can buy at a modern Walmart and Lowes.

The limited reading I've done on their expedition made it sound really, really unlikely that they made the summit. The time of day when they were last seen and the distance from the summit made it seem difficult to near impossible to reach the summit in daylight and descend to a safe position.

Good point, although in hindsight, it seems obvious that they were not able to descend to a safe position.

That's just it. I think they were close enough they said screw it and went for it. There's a lot of confusion on where exactly they were seen last, but some think according to eye witnesses they were seen in a brief period of clear conditions around noon approximately 800 vertical feet from the summit. (Near what they now call the second steppe)Not exactly sure how that translates to actual distance, but they were quickly swallowed again by fog and a few hours later when the weather cleared again they were no longer in view. I'm still digesting everything I can on this so tons more out there. I hope one way or another it's cleared up whether they made the summit or didn't, I don't know how that would happen but still a cool mystery to solve. Also, for what it's worth, Kodak has said there is a decent chance the film could be developed. Obviously a lot of luck in the conditions of it would have to happen, but it seems very doable.

Remember in reading that for a long time the idea that Mallory and Irvine sumitted was almost sacrilege. It was really weird how it was handled in the 60s and 70s. Hillary and Norgay were still alive and the British climbing society wanted to support them and their claim to being first probably had something to do with that.
Mallory and Irvine climbing on the north/Chinese controlled side also added to the lack of information.

I think the good weather reports and the potential sighting on the second step, although questioned, Mallorys wifes photo wasn't with him when his body was found, and of a late return to camp all point towards them getting caught in summit fever pushing beyond their abilities to summit then falling on a late return in the dark.