The hikers before the incident – full of life
In the winter of 1969, a group of seasoned young hikers embarked on an expedition to Otorten through Russia’s remote Ural Mountain. But something tragic happened to the hikers on the trail and their remains were found mysteriously weeks later.
The Dyatlov Pass Incident, as it has come to be known, has become one of modern history’s most perplexing mysteries, leaving many questions unanswered and conspiracy theories circulating. What happened to the hikers on that dreadful night of February 1969? A wild animal attack, a bizarre natural calamity, or something more nefarious?
On the trails
The hikers who went on the Dyatlov Pass expedition were a group of nine experienced hikers and students from different universities in Russia. They set out on their expedition on January 23, 1959. Their leader was Igor Dyatlov, a 23 years old radio engineering student. The tragedy is named after him.
The group’s last known communication was on January 31, when Dyatlov sent a telegram to the group’s sports club saying that they had reached the slopes of Otorten and everything was going well. By February 12, 1959, the hikers were supposed to return; however, when they did not, a search party was dispatched.
The search team discovered the hikers’ tent on the Kholat Syakhl slopes on February 26, 1959. The hikers’ belongings were littered all over the area, and the tent had been torn open from the inside. Footprints of the hikers were seen exiting the tent, although they did not point in any specific direction.
Over the next few days, the search party found the bodies of the hikers scattered throughout the area. Some were found near a makeshift campsite, while others were found farther away. Some of the hikers were wearing only underwear, despite the freezing temperatures.
The circumstances in which the bodies were discovered and from the evidence found, puzzling questions and theories were raised. How exactly did the hikers face such a tragic and untimely end?
One theory proposed to explain the Dyatlov Pass incident is that the hikers were killed by an avalanche. The hikers might have set up camp on a slope that was susceptible to avalanches, and when they heard the sound of a slab avalanche approaching, they cut open their tent in a panic and fled down the slope in their underwear. As a result, they suffered hypothermia and other injuries, while some died trying to return to the campsite.
Some also proposed it was an unknown ferocious wild animal as the bodies were severely injured. There was another assumption that the hikers were victims of an ultrasound occurrence. This happens when sound waves from wind (or machinery) make you feel sick, dizzy, and panicky and you temporarily lose your mind trying to run away from the source.
Another theory explained that the hikers went through paradoxical undressing. In extreme cold, the body can experience a sudden rush of blood to the skin’s surface, creating a sensation of intense heat. The hikers may have experienced this and removed their clothing, leading to hypothermia and ultimately, death. However, this theory does not explain the injuries found on the hikers’ bodies.
On the other hand, some suspects, the hikers may have discovered a secret military operation in the area and were silenced to keep the operation hidden. Others believe they were caught in the crossfire of a weapons test. None of these theories, however, have been proven.
Monument of the victims
According to the official Soviet investigation into the Dyatlov Pass Incident, the hikers died as a result of an “unknown compelling natural force.” However, the report provided no further explanation for this “unknown compelling natural force,” leaving the incident shrouded in mystery and open to speculation.
Many people have questioned the official conclusion, with some claiming that it was a cover-up to conceal something more sinister or controversial as some questions remain. For example, the hikers’ tent was ripped open from the inside, implying that they had left the tent quickly, but there were no signs of a struggle or panic. But why exactly did the hikers try to leave their tent which is supposed to be a safe place for them?
Furthermore, the extreme injuries the hikers had was highly unlikely due to a natural calamity such as avalanches or windstorms. There was also evidence of radioactive contamination on some of the hikers’ clothing.
In the end, despite numerous investigations and theories, the truth about the event remains a mystery. Could it be that nature is keeping its secrets? However, we cannot help but feel compassion for the Dyatlov Pass event victims who embarked on a voyage full of excitement but faced a horrifying end.
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Writer
Kaneta Islam
Intern
Content Writing Department, YSSE