You both have strayed far from the topic. This is about a fall from a tree. Can you explain or defend the idea of someone climbing a tree in winter? Is there a single defensible reason? Do you believe any of the injuries the hikers had were tree related?
In another vein, Teddies hypothesis addresses a lot of the mystery including means, motive and opportunity. The major disconnect is where the tent actually was found. There would be no need to relocate it, and there would certainly be no reason to climb an adjacent tree after one had just crushed your tent.The former only raises unnecessary questions, the latter would be simply childish behavior.
Yes, you're right, I'm sorry.
I don't think they did climb the tree. As far as I remember, there is no evidence that proves they did. Traces of wood and needles and some injuries can as well be attributed to a tree falling on them. I'm with Teddy on this one.
There would be a reason in relocating the tent, if you wanted to keep the place of the accident secret in order to not arise questions. And no, no tree climbing.
You both have strayed far from the topic. This is about a fall from a tree. Can you explain or defend the idea of someone climbing a tree in winter? Is there a single defensible reason? Do you believe any of the injuries the hikers had were tree related?
According to my version, tourists climbed a tree to escape from the dogs of the liquidators. On the posthumous photos of tourists, on their faces and hands - there are traces of jaws and claws of dogs.
I'm familiar with Teddy's version, but not from the book. I have a lot of questions for Theodora:
1. If a tree fell from a geological explosion, then there must be many fallen trees, not one. The search engines did not notice completely fallen trees in the area. And there was no crater from the explosion. Why did the geologists not immediately call a helicopter with medics on the radio?
2. If there was only one fallen tree, then why would geologists take the blame for this one fallen tree?
3. Why drag the tent? They would have photographed the tree that fell on the tent, handed it over to the investigators. The party organs would not have dealt with this matter.... And even the funeral would be at the expense of the parents, but not on party money. (maybe geologists would help a little)........
I respect Theodora, her wonderful forum. I consider her version to be original, but unsubstantiated.
1. As much as I understood it, it was not an explosion causing the tree to fall, but the effect of wind. We know, that there are high winds in the area. The corpses were not found immediately, but only some time later.
2. You often talk about the atmosphere at the time, the influence of Stalin still kinda present. There are cases of people being send to gulags for reasons much smaller (or thought up). Teddy especially mentions an example of a hero of war who was stripped of his medals and titles and send to prison, because some of "his" workers died in a fire accidentally. I'd not be surprised if there were people fearing for their lives when while working in the area, some tourists were killed by a tree.
3. The fear of being made the culprits for the death. I find that plausible.
Thank you Anna for a thoughtful reply. I believe that if geologists were doing government business,they should have nothing to fear. Accidents happen. Trees do fall, but who will choose to place their camp by an unhealthy tree? I would expect tree debris on the tent and human blood too. I do not think the three hikers found going toward the tent on 1079 would have a reason to do so if there was no tent there until they died. Yes, a state funded funeral for a personal tragedy seems add, unless that was a government guarantee for communists.
If a tree fell on the tourists, I can think of no acceptable reason why any,one would climb up a tree thereafter. I would think survivors would gather food and bandages, go to the labaz and then home. The would go anywhere, but not back to an empty spot on a bare mountain side.
The tree was not unhealthy. The geologists chopped trees. And the injuries were mostly internally. Scratches might not have bled at all or small traces were left in blankets. Did anyone check the blankets for blood?
The diaries mention the hikers saw the planes in the area, used by the geologists' expedition. Those, who wanted to go on the mountain tried to do so, to catch the attention of the pilots to get help. They didn't make it, unfortunately.
Isn't there a report from some pilot who saw shapes like bodies on the slope around Feb 2nd? Maybe I'm remembering wrong...