Well I am reading with interest the various possibilities. The Event at the Ravine is obviously critical to ever being able to solve the Dyatlov Mystery. However, just a reminder about the position of Dubinina. Her final resting place is in a stream. The Authorities, who we can not really trust to have given all of the information or evidence, push the DECOMPOSITION THEORY and PREDATOR THEORY to explain the missing Eyes and Tongue and Facial Tissue. Low temperature slows the rate of decomposition. Predators would eat away any body parts not just the parts that we see. Therefore the body of Dubinina should be very putrified and well eaten. But that is not what we see with the body of Dubinina. In fact we dont see it with any of the bodies of the Dyatlov Group. What we do see is very unusual injuries not caused by decomposition or putrefaction.
Pushing the theory? Decomposition or scavengers (or probably both) is the most realistic and natural explanation for a months old corpse in the wilderness, so if they are "pushing" anything, that is the common sense.
Although it is hard to establish feeding patterns, it is known that most scavengers (especially birds or small rodents) will go for the soft tissue, face, lips, nose, tongue and eyes first, not just any part, especially if it is hard get access to, or presumably solid frozen. On the other hand, low temps do slow down decomposition and bacterial activity, but cannot stop the overall process, which is obvious from the photos and the coroner report, no matter how clumsy it is.
By the way, interesting thing for the “color-of-the-skin” fans - cold temperatures can prevent decomposition, except for the change in coloration of the skin from its natural color to orange or black (Byers, 2017; Dix & Graham, 2000; Mann et al. 1990; Vass, 2001). (
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2059&context=etd)
Plus, Lyuda was not just in the stream, she was exposed to running water pouring through her open mouth for who knows how long. Nothing so extraordinary about the tongue and eyes, unless you want it to be like that.
In the end, the only thing that I find odd, is that Lyuda was known for her harsh talking sometimes, her “edgy” tongue… In a twisted way, it is ironical, that she ends up without her tongue eventually.
Interesting readings:
1. Byers, S. N. (2017). Introduction of forensic anthropology. New York: Taylor & Francis;
2. Dix, J., & Graham M. (2000). Time of death, decomposition, and identification: An atlas. New York: CRC Press;
3. Mann, R. W., Bass, W. M., & Meadows, L. (1990). Time since death and decomposition of the human body: variables and observations in case and experimental field studies. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 35, 103-111., 1990;
4. Vass, A. A. (2001). Beyond the grave-understanding human decomposition. Microbial Today, 28, 190-193.