I understand, unfortunately, I do not know if asphyxiation from snow would be detectable after 3 months , in other cases I've read , certain physical components can be found in the lungs, throat and mouth.
Obviously the conclusion about the deaths can only come from what they observe but again the skills and knowledge of 1959 would not be the same as today.
I am following your timeline and modifications with interest. I can't see the group cutting the tent and/or chasing down the slope without taking more equipment though, blankets , coats , axes , ski poles etc.
However, it is interesting as to why those two have the footwear and better clothing. It suggests two proposals, that they were the first down the slope to the woods or perhaps the last , having time to dress slightly better , or a third , that that's just how they were dressed at the time of having to leave the tent.
Please continue
Zolotarev and Tibo were not just the best dressed - they were suitably dressed to be outside. Their level of dress would allow them to be outside long term, they were practically still in their day clothes, camera and everything.
Even from the early days of the investigation there were suggestions that they had been outside when tragedy struck, and that they perhaps alerted the other hikers in the tent.
So building on that - what reason could they have to be outside? judging by their level of dress, more than just a quick toilet break.
I think they were outside with a purpose, how about gathering wood? The lack of wood was mentioned in the diaries - it was also mentioned that what was on the ground was too damp to be of use.
Now we have a cedar tree, that was climbed and the dry branches removed - Tibo has a head injury which can be explained from a fall of 5 meters.
Now I think, ok, this only makes sense if they hikers had time to go gather wood, could they have set an early camp?
Looking at the map of all their camp locations - you can see they covered very little distance that day relative to other days - visibility was poor, they realized they had drifted off course.
Now it begins to look like yes, it is plausible they camped early. this gives them the opportunity to gather wood from the dry trees below, and correct their course fresh the next day.
Next, if Tibo falls and Zolotarev runs back to the tent asking for help - moving Tibo on his own is impractical.
Could the hikers slash the tent open? I think yes - hearing calls for help, perhaps they could make out Tibo is unconscious, they must go and help, someone gets impatient while another is fumbling with the tent entrance. the fastest way to respond to the emergency is to slash the tent. The tent can easily be mended, they have the tools and the skill to mend the tent, they had already mended the tent more than once already on this same trip.
So someone slashes the tent. Could they go out so unprepared? I think yes, the air felt deceptively warm - also from their diary - and Zolotarev would have explained, Tibo is right there, just at the bottom of the hill, I just need some help to bring him back. This doesn't sound like a plan to be away for long, they just have to go there and pick him up. Some put on additional layers and took torches, but some were already leaving towards the woods, not wanting to be left behind while a fellow hiker is in need they all left the tent.
To me this makes the most sense - if they thought it was just a quick out and back in then it makes sense they didn't take more things with them - there's no need, they'll be back soon.
Also the prints found, 8 - 9 people walking orderly straight towards the woods.
I think it was 8 and 'hey perhaps that's possibly a ninth cause hey he is down there so it has to be'. To me that was the 8, headed straight towards were their friend lay.
It was at a cedar that they realised that Tibo could not easily be moved, the best thing was to construct a shelter for Tibo and perhaps one or two carers to spend the night. Zolotarev would have survived nights like this during his time in the frontlines - and other theories also suggest the shelter might have been his idea. That is why the shelter they build is only big enough for a few people. They made a temporary snow-hole and filled it with branches to get Tibo off the snow while they worked.
They divided tasks - those well dressed would build the shelter, the others under-dressed remain by a fire, look after Tibo, and gather materials.
Now this answers another big question, why leave the tent? why not return immediately when the danger had passed?
Because Tibo's injury kept them there longer than they had accounted for.
The under-dressed hikers attempting to return to the tent unfortunately didn't make it.
Then the ravine group. There are many questions as to why they were not at the shelter - they had built this perfectly good shelter but were not found in it.
Because after constructing the shelter they went for Tibo, to bring him to safety. On their return they suffered their fatal injuries.
I think, they fell into the ravine while trying to come down the slope carrying Tibo, they fell, all holding onto eachother as a group. Dubinina was underneath and got the full weight on the team ontop of her, Zolotarev got somehow cushioned by Dubinina and so got the second worst injuries.
Personally I think it was this, and now snow for two reasons
1. no asphyxiation as discussed.
2. I think there was movement after the fall. Kolevatov is now the only remaining able person, i think he made a brave effort to move his friends towards the shelter. i think he was trying to help Dubinina over the ridge, maybe pulling on her arms when he realised she was lost, and left her as she was found. The others he arranged as they were found, neatly parallel to each other. but his strength also ran out, and remained sharing body heat with his friends. until dying of hypothermia.
To me this aligns with their skill, their bravery and their loyalty. I think they made good decisions, likely decisions given the circumstances. the only mistake was to underestimate the cold and how long the rescue mission would take.
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