[eddie willers]

The graphic depicts the Southern Route, a shorter but more technically demanding summit. The North Face is an “easier” route

I think most people will say you've got that backwards. (Once past the Khumbu Ice Falls, that is)

[IronJack]

That's not what I've read. The North Route was the one Mallory took on the first summit attempt because he and Irvine that it looked the most amenable. Nowadays, the only technically demanding portion of the North Route is the Second Step, where ladders have been affixed to aid climbers.

On the Southern Route, the Khumbu Glacier, the Kangshun Cornice, and the Hillary Step are extremely exposed, with the Kangshun offering a daunting vertical wall. No such obstacles present themselves on the North Route, although it covers a much longer distance.

Since most climbers who lose their lives on Everest do not die from falls but from the demands of high-altitude trekking, it is certainly arguable that the longer route is the more dangerous. But in terms of technical climbing, I believe the South Route is considered the more demanding.