I've listed most of the leading theories that caused the tragedy. And I've given my percentages from most likely to least likely. If enough of you respond to this post, maybe we reduce the list to 4 or 5 favorites. Feel free to add other theories to the list if you want. Just be sure your percentages total to 100%.
Toxic fume from missile.................30
Compelling force of nature.............25
KGB............................................25
Soviet military................................5
Infrasound.....................................5
Magic Mushrooms...........................5
Poison Bread..................................5
UFO..............................................0
Yeti...............................................0
Ball lightening................................0
Fight among themselves..................0
Smoke from stove...........................0
- Toxic fumes from a missile - Is there any proof that a missile was near the group on that night? If not, it seems that it would be unlikely. It would definitely explain a lot of their actions but, without proof,
it's hard to validate.
- Compelling force of nature - Since the events in '59, many hikers have been to the pass. Dozens if not hundreds. It seems that in all that time, if it was something repeatable like a compelling force of
nature, that someone would have encountered a situation very similar to what the Dyatlov group experienced that night. But it hasn't. In over 60 years, not a single hiker to the area has experienced a natural force that overtook them with such urgency that they were forced to immediately abandon their campsite and then hike a considerable distance to avoid the threat.
- KGB - Maybe, but why? Also, there is no evidence.
- Soviet military - Again, maybe, but why? If the military was conducting operations in that area, why not close off the entire area? Also, there is no evidence.
- Infrasound - I would group this with the compelling force of nature. A Karman Vortex Street/Infrasound event, like that described in Donnie Eichar's book, has never been observed on the pass.
- Magic Mushrooms - Maybe, but no evidence. Nothing like that was found in the tent or during autopsy. Also, it seems unlikely that they would be a. be doing mushrooms on such a night and b. able to survive so long if they were on something of that nature.
- Poison Bread - Same as mushrooms.
- UFO & Yeti - No evidence.
- Ball Lightening - Their actions don't suggest something as temporary and extremely rare as ball lightning.
- Fight among themselves - Although this could have occurred later on, I don't think it initiated their exit from the tent and down the slope. It seems unlikely that a group of 9 smart and experienced hikers would walk 1500m without shoes and coats because 2 or 3 of them decided to get into a fight back at the tent.
- Smoke from stove - I know this is a very popular theory but, you're right, since the stove was never set up that night there is zero chance it drove them from the tent.
With that said, their exit from the tent does seem that they were forced down the slope by a person(s), but their actions after leaving the tent and reaching the cedar tree, to me, don't suggest that.