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91
General Discussion / Solved yet again - tent cut from inside.
« Last post by ahabmyth on June 20, 2025, 05:53:51 AM »
Ok so I have come up with a new theory which I hope may solve this mystery.

The group whilst going up the mountain suffers an injury whilst navigating the rocky substrate of the mountain (  muscular maybe ). This forces 1 or 2 of the group to help them (maybe more than one ). Two or three of the group go on ahead and erect the tent. The injured formation arrives but no way can the injured person struggle through the tiny opening of the tent. One of the hikers goes inside to get his knife (dont forget its pitch black and the other members want in ) so the hiker inside has no other choice than to cut the tent. They all go inside, unfortunately the wind helps later by adding to the force and rips the tent wide open and all of a sudden tiny rips become much longer. In the tent for a breather they then decide staying in the tent is untenable and decide to go down make a den. And the rest is history. The pic shows this rock strewn area that the group may have crossed to get to the campsite. I can imagine them having lots of slips with the upwards of 40kg on their backs heading into a 60-70klm/hr wind,  the rocks they would have had to traverse maybe only covered in a few inches of wet snow.Of course this theory would only stand up if we can find injuries of the group through the post mortem (which I dont think would take into account of muscular type injuries I dont know). https://ibb.co/4ZgZHB1q
92
General Discussion / Re: Igor Did It
« Last post by SURI on June 19, 2025, 10:08:50 AM »
I agree with you partially. What is certain is that 2 groups formed there and opposed each other. However, it was not in this form, but in the reverse scheme.

I think the three on the slope were not coming back from anywhere, because they didn't even get any further. Slobodin didn't even have a cap on his ears, Dyatlov has irregularities in his socks, Zina didn't put on a face mask and they preferred to "voluntarily" freeze to death.

Torches were used from the fire for 2 Yuris at the cedar. That was the main reason for starting the fire – to get Yuris out of the tree. This caused burns and Y. Doroshenko's fall from the cedar onto branches dropped from the tree.

As for Semyon's photos, they could have been taken during the event. He needed to get evidence. Two of them show a burning branch in the forest.

I completely agree with your last sentence, albeit in reverse order. One at the hands of others (slope, cedar), rest due to Mother Nature (4ravine).
93
General Discussion / Re: Igor Did It
« Last post by eurocentric on June 19, 2025, 05:24:13 AM »
Not sure it was Igor, although the conflict would almost certainly be between him and Semyon and come at the moment of highest stress on the trek, up on 1079, and in close confinement inside the tent, which wasn't ridge supported so the sides would tend to bring people into each other's faces more as they sat down to eat and rest a bit.

Igor's petulance on previous hikes is documented, and he wished to lead, as did a man who never made it to Officer class and spent his life teaching students and was a known quitter, jobs and marriage, so may well bail-out on 1079 and persuade some of the others to do the same and make a snow den.

I think the sole exit, the tent flap end, was likely blocked by the others, either accidentally or deliberately, and so some mutineers cut their way out. They were not allowed to take anything which helped insulate the tent, including skis as these lined the floor. The damage to the tent, the adrenaline of the stand-off, and the angry recriminations which followed, and the young men in the tent having expended so much energy in digging the trench, all led to a gradual hypothermic situation IMO, and the disorientation that can involve.

While remaining at the tent the other 5 would be worried the mutineers would take everything from the cache and follow their own tracks back to Vizhay, snow denning along the way.

The tent group then descended the mountain, most likely at Zina's insistence when Yuri Doro started to show the effects of the cold. They did not take wood cutting tools as they planned to make their own den, but at the foot of 1079 Plan B, a fire, took over when the 2 Yuri's were affected with frostbite and so 3 had to make a den for 5. They had matches in their pockets to keep them dry.

When the fire failed to save the Yuris, who burned themselves while semi-conscious or fitting, the remaining 3 of Igor's group probably attacked the others in the small den in order to secure it for themselves as the only survivor resource. Logs would be taken from the fire and 4 people blinded by torches. This may even be what some of Semyon's photo's, taken on the camera he took from the tent, represent, taken during an earlier scouting mission to the den, the position found by the snow spoil.

Three men were hit on the head to render them unconscious and they were dragged to the ravine, their bodies falling without any attempt to break their fall, so no broken collar bones or hand injuries and the impacts absorbed by chest walls. Lyuda was straddled and thumbs pressed into her throat until she passed out, kicking and scratching., causing Zina's baton bruise and the scratches to Igor's underarm. She came round in the ravine and suffered a second fall when she tried to climb out in the dark. She heard Tibo groan and placed her hat on him.

The unique thing about this mystery is we instantly know so much about the hikers that we cannot imagine them doing anything bad to each other, even if they become split into two adversarial groups and the human survival instinct, that panic, kicked in. But what probably happened was there in plain sight all along, and even alluded to in the autopsies where the pathologist distinguished between the ravine 4 dying 'due to violence' and the others 'a violent death'. One at the hands of others, the rest due to Mother Nature.
94
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by Osi on June 19, 2025, 01:22:27 AM »
If you pay attention to the characteristic features of all the photos between Labaz and Kholat peak, they are all taken in motion. Like climbing to Kholat peak and setting up tents. You will not come across photos of several people getting together and posing for fun, like Lozva valley and other photos from previous days. This shows that; Weather conditions are not suitable and time is valuable. There is no time for fun breaks. Go as far as you can and prepare your tent as soon as possible. It is likely that the tripod will be prepared in the tent in the evening. Hoping that the weather conditions will improve in the morning, it is aimed to have the tent set up on the slope (an important document for this trip) and the group members ready to take photos together.
95
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by SURI on June 18, 2025, 07:32:08 AM »
I'm not the only one who thinks that Krivonischenko's last photo is related to the incident. I combine these two things because they are connectable.

On one side we have the incident, darkness, flashlights, and on the other side we have the last photo, which is taken in the dark with a camera prepared with a tripod.

 To me, this means that the last image from Krivonischenko's camera was a deliberate shot taken at the time of the incident.
96
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by Ziljoe on June 18, 2025, 04:09:27 AM »
I had long since ruled out an avalanche or a slab slide. The tent was not collapsed at the time the incident began. Yuri Krivonischenko, the last one in the tent, managed to put a tripod on his camera and take 1 picture of the shining threat. At that moment, he already knew that this was a threat that was very, very near.

I believe the camera was found attached to a tripod, however this would take a bit of time and it has been suggested that the last shot or photographs were perhaps just the people developing the film winding the last shots on to finish the film roll. I think the tripod is only used for low light ( shaky hands) and the potential for a group shot at Ortoten summit.


This leads me to another assumption, that is, it was a portable tripod, small and relatively light. Why the tripod was attached is an interesting  question. Was it used for the last photo digging the tent platform or was it going to used for a morning shot?.

The tripod and Krivonischenko's last photo are related. Krivonischenko intended to photograph this shining threat as evidence. As the last one in the tent (along with Doroshenko), he had time to prepare. But he only managed to take one last photo, and then only an emergency cut through the tent followed. The other tourists who were previously in the tent did not perceive this threat, because the threat was only apparent when the other tourists left the tent.

Hi Suri , how do you know the following, "The tripod and Krivonischenko's last photo are related. Krivonischenko intended to photograph this shining threat as evidence"

The problem I have is that it takes time to set up a tripod , you have to find the tripod and the camera , take off a thick leather cover on the camera , then fiddle with tripod legs, they may be threaded and telescopic. Once you have that set up you have to select the aperture , focus and best settings on the camera . It's not a quick thing to do , especially in the cold . I'm sure you will know that film cameras are nothing like modern digital cameras and thats where I have a problem. There's no evidence that the photo was taken on that night.
97
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by SURI on June 18, 2025, 01:48:07 AM »
I had long since ruled out an avalanche or a slab slide. The tent was not collapsed at the time the incident began. Yuri Krivonischenko, the last one in the tent, managed to put a tripod on his camera and take 1 picture of the shining threat. At that moment, he already knew that this was a threat that was very, very near.

I believe the camera was found attached to a tripod, however this would take a bit of time and it has been suggested that the last shot or photographs were perhaps just the people developing the film winding the last shots on to finish the film roll. I think the tripod is only used for low light ( shaky hands) and the potential for a group shot at Ortoten summit.


This leads me to another assumption, that is, it was a portable tripod, small and relatively light. Why the tripod was attached is an interesting  question. Was it used for the last photo digging the tent platform or was it going to used for a morning shot?.

The tripod and Krivonischenko's last photo are related. Krivonischenko intended to photograph this shining threat as evidence. As the last one in the tent (along with Doroshenko), he had time to prepare. But he only managed to take one last photo, and then only an emergency cut through the tent followed. The other tourists who were previously in the tent did not perceive this threat, because the threat was only apparent when the other tourists left the tent.
98
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by GlennM on June 17, 2025, 05:30:36 PM »
On Dyatlov Pass website, there is an interview article for Vladimir Androsov. In the article, he makes comments based on his exchanges with Forester Pashin as told to a 13 year old boy.  What interests me is that when it comes to the Labaz, Vlad has definite things to say. It seems his comments are based on experience and other reliable sources. Read the following:

Vladimir Androsov Usually, if there was a labaz, it is not set up in the snow, since animals can find it and drag it away, or people themselves can lose this place. But in a high place, so that it can be seen from afar. Between two nearby trees, crossbars are installed - thick tree trunks, 12-14 centimeters in diameter. For strength. And on them they put what they wanted to leave: food, some extra clothes, spare skis, etc. A large burnt rag is tied nearby, the smell of the rag will scare away the animals. Or spent cartridges from a gun, they smell of gunpowder, well, something smelly, a piece of rag, used in gasoline, well, etc. And only desperate idiots who don't understand anything about the taiga, amateurs, could make a labaz in the snow, and such people should be driven out of the taiga. All of them should first take an exam like "Basics of survival in the taiga", and only then let them go on a route. There will be fewer emergencies.

MP: This so-called labaz is very strange, and it is possible that the Dyatlov group themselves did not make it. The Dyatlov group's diaries noted that they were going to build a labaz, to set it up. Build - it's not like digging a hole in the snow, is it?

Vladimir Androsov: The word "labaz" itself implies installing a supply of something on trees, but not in the snow. They couldn't have done that, and it is clear that the ski stuck in is especially the only one, and where is the second one? Did they find it? No? It is not possible that any of them left their ski and continued on one.

Protocol inspection of the labaz
Russian
Sheet 8
Protocolinspection the labaz
March 2, 1959 Search party base camp in the upper sources of Auspiya river. Attorney forensic Sverdlovsk region Ivanov prosecution in the presence of the head search party comrade Maslennikov (city of Sverdlovsk, Zavodskaya St, 32) and Slobtsov Boris Efimovich (Sverdlovsk, Lenin St 13-a, apt. 23) in accordance with Art. 78 Code of Criminal Procedure made this Protocol as follows:on this date in the upper sources of Auspiya river, below the pass of the river Lozva, the labaz (cache of food supplies) of the Dyatlov group was discovered.
Labaz is located at a group's camp site well hidden packed with fire wood, covered with planks and spruce debris. At the storage one pair of skis is propped in the snow and a torn gaiter is slipped onto it,
Sheet 9
- 2 -
upon excavation of the cache the following products were found:
Condensed milk 2.5 kg
Meat canned banks 4 kg
Sugar - 8 kg
Butter - 4 kg
Cooked sausage - 4 kg
Salt - 1.5 kg
Kissel-compote - 3 kg
Oatmeal and buckwheat 7.5 kg
Cocoa 200 g
Coffee - 200 g
Tea - 200 gr
Loin - 3 kg
Milk powder - 1 kg
Sugar - 3 kg
Crackers - 7 kg and Noodles - 5 kg
Also found:mandolin, a pair of shoes 41 size, and worn socks inside, pair of insulated boots, mounting set, 2 batteries mounted with the bulb for lighting
Sheet 10
- 3 -
According to Blinov the insulated boots belonged Dyatlov.Since the products are not of interest to the investigation, they transferred the head of the search party comrade Maslennikov as an emergency reserve. All containers of product, and mandolin, two pairs of shoes, socks and the mounting set are confiscated

The upshot of all this is that knowledgable hikers are going to raise and flag their cache so as to keep it from animals and be visible at  a distance.

Any cache buried in snow and marked perhaps with a ski indicates, a very large misunderstanding of the practical requirements of a Labaz.

My point is this. If the group ignored Pashin's admonition about taking the ridge route and further if the tourists fashioned an inferior temporary storage, it is arguable that their last camp on 1079 amounted to a gamble with Nature, without being  qualified or prepared to take the risk. The unknown compelling force was hubris.
99
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by Ziljoe on June 17, 2025, 02:05:20 PM »
I had long since ruled out an avalanche or a slab slide. The tent was not collapsed at the time the incident began. Yuri Krivonischenko, the last one in the tent, managed to put a tripod on his camera and take 1 picture of the shining threat. At that moment, he already knew that this was a threat that was very, very near.

I believe the camera was found attached to a tripod, however this would take a bit of time and it has been suggested that the last shot or photographs were perhaps just the people developing the film winding the last shots on to finish the film roll. I think the tripod is only used for low light ( shaky hands) and the potential for a group shot at Ortoten summit.


This leads me to another assumption, that is, it was a portable tripod, small and relatively light. Why the tripod was attached is an interesting  question. Was it used for the last photo digging the tent platform or was it going to used for a morning shot?.
100
General Discussion / Re: It should be like this in its simplest form
« Last post by Ziljoe on June 17, 2025, 01:35:19 PM »
Question: Why couldn't we find any footprints between Labaz and the tent?

Answer: When the group set off from the Labaz region, there was a calm but heavy snowfall. The footprints were covered with snow within minutes.

Question: What happened next?

Answer: As you know; in heavy and stormy snowfall, snow acts as insulation against the cold, the chill is reduced and you even enjoy it. This situation may have caused a complacency in setting up the tent on the slope.

Question: What happened next?
We can assume that after we got into the tent in the evening, had our dinner, undressed and went to sleep, the weather changed and turned into a storm. We can assume that the wind blowing from northwest to southeast, that is, downhill, caused snow to accumulate on the side of the tent facing the hill. It can be assumed that most of them did not notice this accumulation because they were asleep. After the accumulation reached a level that the tent could not support, the tent collapsed because one of the poles inside broke. I think the only reason the tent was cut was because they were stuck inside the tent and could not move. Numbness, darkness, no idea or knowledge of what happened. They may have interpreted this impact as an avalanche. In fact, this collapse can also be considered an avalanche.

What happened next? Although there were no footprints from the Labaz region to the tent, the fact that there were traces from the tent to the cedar tree is an indication that the storm was continuing when they left the tent. They trampled on fresh snow. Columns formed at heights where the wind was effective. In other hollow areas, the wind did not allow the traces to be covered. I think they received many unexplained simple trauma wounds on their bodies during this collapse.

What happened in the valley?
We know that there are roughnesses near the cedar tree that could cause a fall. The reason we chose the cedar tree is that it is an advantageous place among the weak trees to protect from the storm. Also, old trees can provide you with fuel. There are many dry branches in old cedars.

If things are not going well in the cedar region, the fire may not be strong enough and some members may start to show advanced hypothermia symptoms over time. After Yuris' condition worsens, the two leaders' plan comes into play here. Dyatlov will go to the tent, Semyon wants to build a cave for the rest. The trees and bushes on both sides of a ravine form a roof frame with the snow that falls or blows away. Just like the wood under the tiles on houses. If left untreated, the compacted snow can accumulate for months without collapsing. You can easily enter this roof from the ravine's watercourse. In February, there was probably no water flow at the bottom of the ravine.

Semyon's group could not warm up enough in the pit they dug a few meters from the ravine and noticed the entrance to the cave in the ravine. They dug a comfortable space large enough to fit 4 people, and then the bridge had to collapse.

I think something like this is most plausible. We also have to remember that three weeks of weather , wind , snow drifting etc will have changed the snow depth in various places .
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