Inside The Horror Of The Gruesome Dyatlov Pass Tragedy

Scattered Possessions Were All That Investigators Found At The Scene

(getty images)

Diaries and cameras, scattered around their final campsite, provided a trail to follow, leading right up to the eve of calamity. On January 31, the group reached the fringes of a lofty expanse, preparing themselves for the ascent. Amidst a verdant valley, provisions and gear were tucked away, reserved for their return journey. Come the next day, the intrepid hikers embarked upon their passage through the pass. Their aim was to traverse the peak and locate a campsite across the other side for the impending nightfall.

Yet, as the weather grew increasingly hostile—blustering snowstorms and vanishing visibility—confusion took hold, driving them off course, westward, towards the summit of Kholat Syakhl. In the face of this realization, they elected to pitch camp on the mountain's slope, rather than descend a mile and a half to a sheltered forested enclave, forsaking protection against the relentless elements. Yuri Yefimovich Yudin, who was on the expedition but left prior to the disappearance:

Dyatlov probably did not want to lose the altitude they had gained, or he decided to practice camping on the mountain slope.

The Message That Was Never Sent

(BBC)

Igor Dyatlov, before parting ways, had promised that once the group reconvened in Vizhai, a telegram would be dispatched to their sports club without delay. Although it was anticipated this missive would arrive no later than February 12, Dyatlov, confiding in Yudin before his own departure, hinted at a lengthier timeframe. As the 12th slipped away, sans any word received, initial reactions remained subdued, for slight delays were not uncommon on such daring escapades.

It wasn't until the 20th of February, when family members of the intrepid travelers clamored for a rescue mission, that the wheels were set in motion. The institute's head swiftly assembled the initial rescue teams, comprising volunteers from their ranks—students and mentors. In time, the army and local police chartered planes and helicopters to join this harrowing missing person operation.

Bodies Bodies Bodies

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On February 26, the searchers found the group's destroyed and abandoned tent on Kholat Syakhl. Mikhail Sharavin, the student who found the tent, noted:

The tent was half torn down and covered with snow. It was empty, and all the group's belongings and shoes had been left behind.

The investigators arrived at a bewildering scene. A torn-open tent stood before them, displaying a disturbing point of entry. Inside, they discovered nine sets of footprints etched in the snow-covered ground, marking the path taken by these curious individuals who ventured forth without proper footwear. Some wore socks, single shoes, or even no shoes at all as they made their way towards the edge of a nearby forest, located about 1.5 kilometers northeast of the pass. Unfortunately, the tracks vanished under the heavy snowfall, making further tracing impossible. At the forest's edge, an intriguing sight awaited them—an open space with remnants of a modest fire. It was there that the first two bodies were found: Krivonishenko and Doroshenko, dressed only in their undergarments, vulnerable to the unforgiving cold. Broken branches, reaching heights of up to five meters, hinted that one of the hikers had attempted to climb in search of something, perhaps their camp. The search continued, leading to the discovery of Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, and Slobodin in various positions, indicating their desperate attempts to return to the tent. They were found at distances of 300, 480, and 630 meters from the mournful tree.

The Skiers Were Likely Killed By Hypothermia, But No One Knows Why They Ran Into The Snow

(Teodora Hadjiyska/Dyatlov Pass website)

Following the discovery of the initial five bodies, a prompt legal investigation was initiated. Detailed examination of the remains by medical professionals yielded no visible injuries that could explain their tragic demise. Hypothermia emerged as the prevailing conclusion, an inescapable fate that had claimed their lives. Slobodin, one of the fallen, displayed a minor crack in his skull, which was deemed insignificant in relation to his ultimate fate.

However, the course of events took a dramatic twist with the unearthing of four more bodies in May, significantly altering the narrative. Three of the hikers exhibited severe and fatal injuries: Thibeaux-Brignolles suffered significant skull damage, while Dubinina and Zolotaryov sustained debilitating chest fractures. Boris Vozrozhdenny, a witness to this haunting scene, asserted that the force required to inflict such catastrophic injuries would rival the impact of a catastrophic car accident. Remarkably, these fractured bodies showed no external wounds corresponding to the extent of their bone injuries, almost as if they had experienced an immense and unyielding pressure.

The Bodies Of Four Skiers Were Missing In The Snow For Months

(getty images)

The search for the remaining four individuals proved to be a challenging ordeal that stretched over two arduous months. Finally, on May 4th, their lifeless bodies were located beneath four meters of snow in a ravine, deeper into the woods from the pine tree. Three of them were better dressed than the others, suggesting that they had utilized the clothing of those who had died earlier to withstand the harsh conditions. Dubinina, intertwined with the fate of Krivonishenko, even wore his burned and torn trousers, while her left foot and shin were wrapped in a torn jacket—an attempt to protect herself from the biting cold.

The Faces Of The Travelers Were Brutally Ravaged

(Russian National Archives)

The lifeless bodies of four individuals were discovered submerged in the depths of the creek, carried along by the relentless flow of water. However, it was the gruesome disfigurement etched upon their countenances that left an indelible imprint. Each victim exhibited unmistakable signs of soft tissue damage, a cruel distortion of their once familiar features.

Dubinina's tragic fate bore witness to the loss of her tongue, eyes, a section of her lips, along with facial tissue and a fragment of skullbone, mercilessly taken away. Zolotaryov, too, faced the haunting void left by the absence of his eyeballs, while Aleksander Kolevatov's brows had been inexplicably removed. V. A. Vozrozhdenny, the forensic expert entrusted with untangling this perplexing enigma, concluded that these horrifying injuries occurred post-mortem, likely inflicted during the forlorn placement of their lifeless bodies within the somber embrace of the creek.

The Indigenous Mansi People Were Initially Blamed For The Attack

(Public Domain)

Early speculation emerged suggesting the indigenous Mansi people, local reindeer herders, might have perpetrated the attack and murder of the hikers due to territorial disputes. Several Mansi individuals were questioned, but subsequent investigation found no supporting evidence for this theory. The nature of the deaths contradicted the hypothesis, as only the footprints of the hikers were present, revealing no signs of physical struggle or hand-to-hand combat.

Despite the frigid temperatures, plummeting to a bone-chilling range of approximately -25 to -30 °C (-13 to -22 °F), coupled with an unforgiving storm, the deceased hikers were discovered in a state of partial undress. Some wore only a single shoe, while others were limited to socks alone. Furthermore, remnants of ripped fabric, seemingly cut from the garments of the deceased, served as improvised coverings for some of the bodies, adding another layer of intrigue to the mysterious circumstances surrounding their demise.

Inquest Files Explain Quite A Bit, But Not What Killed Them

(Teodora Hadjiyska/Dyatlov Pass website)

The Dyatlov Pass case was promptly closed by the Soviet government, providing scant explanations attributing the hikers' deaths to hypothermia, citing their supposed lack of experience, and hinting at a potential role played by an avalanche.

However, this explanation failed to address the persistent inquiries that lingered, leaving amateur investigators grappling with the enigma of the Dyatlov Pass Incident for over six decades. Despite the case being reopened by the Russian government in 2019, the precise events that unfolded on that wintry mountainside all those years ago remain shrouded in uncertainty, yet to be fully unveiled.

According to journalists who have reviewed the available sections of the inquest files, they assert that the documents indicate:

• Six of the group members died of hypothermia and three of fatal injuries.
• There were no indications of other people nearby aside from the nine travelers.
• The tent was ripped open from the inside
• The victims died six to eight hours after their last meal.
• All group members left the campsite of their own accord, on foot.
• Some levels of radiation were found on one victim's clothing.
• Vozrozhdenny, in an effort to refute the hypothesis of an attack by the indigenous Mansi people, firmly stated that the fatal injuries sustained by the three bodies were not inflicted by human hands, "because the force of the blows had been too strong and no soft tissue had been damaged."
  
• The released documents did not provide any details regarding the condition of the skiers' internal organs.
• There were no survivors.

Some Theorize That A Yeti Is Responsible

(Teodora Hadjiyska/Dyatlov Pass website)

After ruling out human suspects in the Dyatlov Pass Incident the focus turned to alternative explanations. Speculation began circulating about the possibility that the hikers fell victim to a creature known as a menk, described as a Russian version of the yeti. Supporters of this theory argued that only a formidable and massive beast could have possessed the necessary strength to cause the severe injuries observed on the bodies of three of the hikers.

One aspect that received significant attention was the disturbing disfigurement on Dubinina's face, a sight that deeply unsettled those who witnessed it. While skeptics propose explanations involving scavengers or the effects of submersion in a freezing stream, proponents of the menk theory envision a more ominous presence lurking in the shadows. According to them, this creature would be an apex predator, infused with malevolence, waiting to strike.

Secret Radioactive Material Could Have Been The Cause Of Death

(Getty Images)

Certain investigators propose a connection between the detection of minimal radiation traces on specific corpses and far-fetched conjectures surrounding the hikers' potential exposure to a covert weaponized radiation device. These speculations suggest that such a device may have been unleashed as part of undisclosed government experiments. Supporters of this idea emphasize the unusual appearance of the bodies, which exhibited a slightly faded orange complexion during their solemn farewells.

However, if radiation had truly caused their deaths, higher levels would have undoubtedly been evident upon examination. The orange hue observed on the corpses can be attributed to the effects of the harsh cold environment in which they lay for an extended period, resulting in partial mummification.

The theory of a secret weapon gains momentum partially due to the testimonies provided by another expedition. This separate group of campers, situated approximately 50 kilometers from the ill-fated Dyatlov Pass team on that ill-fated night, reported witnessing peculiar orange spheres drifting across the skies above Kholat Syakhl. Advocates of the secret weapon theory interpret these observations as distant explosions.

According to this hypothesis, the thunderous sound produced by the weapon's discharge startled the hikers, causing them to hastily evacuate their tents in a state of panic. Partially dressed, the initial group succumbed to hypothermia while seeking refuge from the blasts, huddling near the tree line in a desperate attempt to find shelter.

One Investigator Believes That A UFO Is The True Culprit

(fair use)

During an interview with a local Kazakh newspaper in 1990, Lev Ivanov, the chief investigator of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, claimed that USSR censorship kept him from coming forward with his theory that something from beyond the stars was the cause of the whole trouble. He said:

I suspected at the time and am almost sure now that these bright flying spheres had a direct connection to the group’s death.

Soviet Drug Testing May Have Played A Part

(getty images)

An alternative explanation for this mess suggests that the hikers' demise could be attributed to drug experiments carried out by the Soviet military which supposedly induced volatile behavior. However, another theory states that an uncanny meteorological phenomenon known as infrasound, spawned by specific wind patterns that trigger panic attacks within the human psyche, as the low-frequency sound waves reverberate like an internal earthquake.

Ultimately, the official conclusion regarding the hikers' fate settled on an enigmatic proclamation of "a compelling natural force," effectively slamming the case shut.

Modern Researchers Believe A Slab Of Ice Did In The Skiers

(Gaume/Puzrin)

Reviewing a sensationalist "Yeti" hypothesis, American skeptic author Benjamin Radford believes that it's more likely that an avalanche hit the hikers than a yeti:

That the group woke up in a panic (...) and cut their way out the tent either because an avalanche had covered the entrance to their tent or because they were scared that an avalanche was imminent (...) (better to have a potentially repairable slit in a tent than risk being buried alive in it under tons of snow). They were poorly clothed because they had been sleeping, and ran to the safety of the nearby woods where trees would help slow oncoming snow. In the darkness of night, they got separated into two or three groups; one group made a fire (hence the burned hands) while the others tried to return to the tent to recover their clothing since the danger had passed. But it was too cold, and they all froze to death before they could locate their tent in the darkness. At some point, some of the clothes may have been recovered or swapped from the dead, but at any rate, the group of four whose bodies was most severely damaged were caught in an avalanche and buried under 4 meters (13 ft) of snow (more than enough to account for the 'compelling natural force' the medical examiner described). Dubinina's tongue was likely removed by scavengers and ordinary predation.

Violent Winds Could Have Been The Cause Of This Disaster

(dyatlovpass.com)

In 2019, a group of Swedish and Russian researchers came up with a theory that seemed quite possible: a very strong and dangerous wind called a katabatic wind might be the reason for the strange incident. These winds didn't happen often, but when they did, they were incredibly powerful and frightening.

The explorers discovered something shocking. They found a connection between the incident they were investigating and a terrible disaster that happened in 1978 on Anaris Mountain in Sweden. In that disaster, eight people died, and one person survived but was badly hurt. The two locations looked very similar, which made the explorers' findings even more haunting.

When the sudden katabatic wind hit, it was so strong that it destroyed the tent. The tent became useless and not safe for the people inside. In such a situation, the hikers should have protected themselves by covering the tent with snow to create a shield against the wind. They could have sought safety and rest near the trees. Interestingly, the explorers found a torch that was still lit near the damaged tent. This raised questions about whether it was intentionally left there to guide the hikers back once the strong wind calmed down. The explorers suggested that the group of hikers, facing a terrible situation, cleverly made two temporary shelters in a desperate attempt to survive. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side. One of the makeshift shelters collapsed under the relentless wind, burying four hikers beneath it. The bodies of these unfortunate individuals had clear signs of severe injuries, which made the mystery even more puzzling for everyone trying to understand what really happened.

Infrasound May Have Driven The Skiers Mad

(dyatlovpass.com)

Donnie Eichar's book, Dead Mountain, popularized an alternative hypothesis suggesting that the wind swirling around Kholat Syakal spawned a phenomenon known as the Kármán vortex street, generating infrasound capable of provoking panic attacks in humans.

According to Eichar's theory, it was this infrasound, emanating from the wind as it swept over the apex of Holatchahl mountain, that triggered physical discomfort and psychological anguish within the hikers. Eichar argues that gripped by panic, the hikers were compelled to abandon their tent, resorting to any means necessary, and fled down the slope. Once farther down the hillside, out of the path of the infrasound, they would have regained their composure. However, shrouded in darkness, they became disoriented and unable to find their way back to the shelter. The severe injuries endured by three victims stemmed from their fateful misstep, tumbling over the precipice of a ravine, descending blindly into the jagged embrace of the rocks below.

Some Researchers Blame Secret Military Tests For The Disaster

(armedforcesjournal)

Some researchers propose a theory suggesting that the campsite found itself unwittingly within the path of a Soviet parachute mine exercise. According to this hypothesis, the hikers were abruptly awakened by thunderous explosions, prompting them to hastily flee the tent in a state of panic, barefoot and disoriented. Tragically, they were unable to return to retrieve essential supplies. As the chaos ensued, some members succumbed to the frigid temperatures, freezing to death in their desperate attempt to withstand the bombardment. Others, in a desperate bid for survival, seized the clothing of their fallen comrades, only to suffer fatal injuries from subsequent parachute mine detonations.

Curiously, historical records reveal that the Soviet military conducted parachute mine tests in the area around the time the hikers were present. These parachute mines possess the unique characteristic of detonating while still airborne, rather than upon impact with the ground. Consequently, their explosions inflict heavy internal damage while causing relatively minimal external trauma, aligning with the injuries observed on the bodies of the hikers. This theory coincides with reports of eyewitnesses who claimed to have witnessed glowing, orange orbs hovering or descending from the sky in the general vicinity of the hikers. The hikers themselves allegedly captured photographs of these phenomena, which could potentially be attributed to military aircraft or descending parachute mines.

Radiation Could Have Been A Factor In The Demise Of These Skiers

(dyatlovpass)

Another peculiar theory suggests the possibility of radiological weapons testing, fueled in part by the detection of radioactivity on certain articles of clothing, as well as accounts from relatives describing the hikers' orange skin and gray hair. However, it is important to note that if radioactive dispersal had occurred, it would have affected all members of the group and their equipment, rather than just a select few. Furthermore, the discoloration of skin and hair can be attributed to a natural process of mummification, resulting from prolonged exposure to the cold and relentless winds over a period of three months.

Critics argue that the initial suppression of files pertaining to the group's disappearance by Soviet authorities is often cited as evidence of a cover-up. However, it is crucial to recognize that withholding information regarding domestic incidents was a standard practice in the USSR, and thus not necessarily indicative of anything extraordinary. Moreover, by the late 1980s, all files related to the Dyatlov incident had been released in some form or another.

Some Theories Are More Science Fiction Than Science Fact

(dyatlovpass)

One of the stranger theories about this case comes from a Soviet investigator who stated that a "heat ray or strong but completely unknown energy" caused this chilling debacle. 

As wild as this conspiracy theory sounds, it's the perfect culmination of the Yeltsin era in the Soviet Union. Eliot Borenstein, a professor of Russian at New York University explained:

When the state would say, ‘Yes, we covered this up, here are the crimes of Stalin,’ you would think that might inspire confidence in getting the truth out. But really the opposite happened. It felt like the biggest confirmation you can get when the state admits its lies. Everything about perestroika really undermined any argument for objective truth that you can verify.

A New Investigation Was Opened In 2019

(dyatlovpass.com)

In 2019, Russian officials reopened the Dyatlov case for a new investigation. After careful deliberation, the authorities limited their considerations to three main hypotheses: an avalanche, a hazardous snow slab, or the ferocious might of a hurricane. With these possibilities in mind, the case was promptly closed once again, accompanied by a reassurance that no criminal activities were involved.

In July 2020, investigators boldly announced their findings, stating that the hikers tragically succumbed to hypothermia after being forcefully expelled from their vulnerable tent by an avalanche's icy onslaught. Nevertheless, the enigma of that ill-fated night in the depths of Dyatlov Pass persists, shrouded in unofficial whispers, defiantly defying resolution as its mysterious veil remains firmly intact.

As a testament to the fallen expedition, the mountain slope was reverently christened Dyatlov Pass. A steadfast monument stands in solemn reverence, paying homage to the nine courageous individuals, situated in the sacred grounds of Mikhajlov Cemetery nestled within Yekaterinburg. It is within this hushed and sorrowful sanctuary that the unblemished truth of that fateful night finds eternal refuge, forever veiled from mortal comprehension.

The Alleged Avalanche

(dyatlovpass)

In 2019, Russian authorities unveiled their plans to reopen the investigation into the incident, attributing the hikers' demise not to a criminal act but rather to potential causes such as an avalanche, a snow slab, or a hurricane. Subsequently, in the following year, the inquiry concluded that the deaths resulted from a combination of an avalanche and limited visibility. As reported by the state-owned RIA news agency in July 2020, the official findings suggested that a sudden surge of snow slabs, characterized by blocky chunks, caught the sleeping victims off guard, prompting them to seek refuge at a nearby ridge.

Tragically, with visibility restricted to a mere 50 feet, the hikers succumbed to the cold as they endeavored to navigate their way back to their tent. However, due to the perceived absence of crucial scientific details in the official findings and the Russian government's reputed lack of transparency, this explanation failed to satisfy the curiosity of the public.

In The End, The Skiers Never Left Each Other

(dyatlovpass.com)

Johan Gaume, a professor at the Snow and Avalanche Simulation Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland believes that an errant slab of ice is the cause of this terrible accident. Gaume believes that the hikers were caught off guard by a sudden and forceful slab avalanche during the night, and found themselves in a desperate struggle to flee their tent and assist their wounded companions. Hastily, and with scant clothing to shield them from the elements, they hastily departed, driven by the potential threat of another avalanche. Their destination was a supply cache concealed within the forest, a beacon of hope amidst the treacherous surroundings. Mr. Gaume said: 

It’s the story of nine friends who fought together against the force of nature. They didn’t leave each other.