Theories Discussion > General Discussion

Rational or Irrational...What do you think?

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MDGross:
Did the hikers act in a rational manner? If they thought an avalanche was happening, for example, or saw balls of fire rolling down the slope (ball lightening scenario), or smelled toxic fumes from a missile explosion, then exiting the tent so suddenly seems a rational decision. But scenarios like infrasound, or tainted rye bread, or hypothermia inside the tent, suggest that their ability to think clearly was affected. So they could have acted irrationally.
I suppose it depends on which scenario or scenarios you feel strongly about. Perhaps a mental health expert could help out. The tent cut from the inside, the hikers fleeing without shoes or coats, walking but not running toward the shelter of the woods...rational or irrational? Perhaps once they reached the woods, they began thinking clearly again. Building a camp fire and digging out a snow den are rational acts.
If this question could be answered with some certainty, it would strengthen some theories and weaken others.

Manti:
I would like to extend this question even to their behavior before the incident.

Reaching the end of the forest line at the pass, as evidenced by photos, and knowing from their maps that they are very close to the forest in the Lozva valley on the other side, yet turning back south into the Auspiya valley and camping there, essentially losing a day. Rational or irrational?

Camping on the slope of Kholat Syakhl on their last day, and either not planning to use the stove or planning to have it supported on a rope held only by a few skis. Rational or irrational?

Lyuda discontinuing her diary mid-sentence 4 days before the incident, and later not participating in celebrating Kolevatov's birthday and apparently skipping dinner. Rational?

MDGross:
Good point, Manti. If some of the decision in the days prior to Feb. 1 seem irrational, then what was causing them to not think clearly?

Investigator:
Acting rationally according to a bad plan is clearly the most likely scenario.  Here we are, all these years later, used to our smart phones, etc., second-guessing them.  The major mistake, IMO, was pitching that tent (which was ripping apart under better conditions the previous days) in that location, without heat.  If they went to the wooded area (where they started the fire) to pitch the tent, I think there would have been no "incident."

EBE:

--- Quote from: Manti on August 17, 2021, 11:01:38 AM ---
Reaching the end of the forest line at the pass, as evidenced by photos, and knowing from their maps that they are very close to the forest in the Lozva valley on the other side, yet turning back south into the Auspiya valley and camping there, essentially losing a day. Rational or irrational?

Camping on the slope of Kholat Syakhl on their last day, and either not planning to use the stove or planning to have it supported on a rope held only by a few skis. Rational or irrational?


--- End quote ---

What might have happened: They planned to stay at the Cedar location, as there was a camping place that Dyatlov knew of before. The Cedar location was on their route, according to the route map.
However, they met other people there, and there was a quarrel, maybe a fight (as per pathologist Tumanov's notes that some of the injuries were 1-2 days old at the time of their death). The group had to return to Auspiya valley to camp, but next day they decided to continue their trek and bypass the cedar location, camping on the slope. That's where the attackers discovered them, made them abandon the tent and descend to the Cedar camp to meet their fate there.

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