Ski trip-expedition-2023 to the Dyatlov Pass from 12.03.23-24.03.23

[Олег Таймень]

From March 12 to March 24, 2023, a ski trip-expedition to the Dyatlov Pass is planned.
Route: transfer from Ivdel to Gaz-66 - Auspiya ford - Ilyich base - Chaikonur pass - Buranka along the watershed of Lozva and Auspiya - obelisk on the Dyatlov pass - storehouse of the Dyatlov group - MP of the Dyatlov group - cedar and the right fourth tributary of the Lozva - Buranka along the watershed of Lozva and Auspiya - Chaikonur pass - Ilyich base - Auspiya ford - drop to Ivdel
Goals and objectives:
1. Measurements and photography of the place of the Dyatlov Group Labaza. Conducting several experiments. Search on the terrain for points of relief and vegetation from the images of photographic films of the Dyatlov group. tasks at the request of Alexander Konstantinov (according to the list), search for a branchy birch from HD films, study of the logic of the parking lot, search for a gap for descent, etc.
2. Measurements of the distance and time of movement from Labaza to the MP of the Dyatlov group on the slope of Halatchakhl.
3. Measurements of snow depth and wind strength on MP
4. Overnight at the MP without a stove
5. Study of the slope avalanche hazard in the MP area
6. Climbing Halatchakhl.
7. Studying the steepness of the eastern slope of the Khalat Sakhl peak for injury risk during descent
8. Detailed study of blowings on the creek at the place of the deck and the four.
9. Measurements of the depth of snow at the locations of the bodies of the troika
10. Search for cuts on a birch according to Maslennikov, the depth of snow near the lying and living cedars (tasks at the request of Theodora)
11. Experiments with making a fire in the cedar area.
12. Experiments with a cave in a pressurized stream
13. Search for ice between the second and third ridges
etc.


Approximate daily itinerary:
1 day. Ford of Auspiya - Ilyich's base (if gas-66 can break through to Ilyich's base, then this day will be used for additional study of the MP and the slope)
Day 2 Base of Ilyicha - Chaikonur pass
Day 3 Chaikonur Pass - up to the forest zone under the Dyatlov Pass
Day 4 To the storehouse of the State Duma, study of the place and overnight
Day 5 Before MP and overnight
Day 6 Ascent to Halatchakhl and descent to the 4th tributary of Lozva
Day 7 measurements. Experiments.
Day 8 measurements. Experiments.
Day 9 measurements. Experiments.
Day 10 Dyatlov Pass - under the Chaikonur Pass
Day 11 To the base of Ilyich
Day 12 Base of Ilyich - ford of Auspiya
Day 13 Release on gas-66 to Ivdel
GENERAL
While I'm walking alone. Tickets have been bought, drop-off has been ordered, equipment for 1 person has been prepared.
Train from Yekaterinburg to Ivdel №127. Departure 03/11/23 at 17.28. Arrival in Ivdel 12.03.23. at 02.51. (Immediate transfer to gas-66.)
Those who wish can join. Since in March there is still a full-fledged winter in the mountains of the Northern Urals, there are two conditions:
1. You have experience in winter skiing.
2. You have proven self-contained gear and clothing for a multi-day winter ski trip.
Expedition expenses:
1. The price of railway tickets to Ivdel and back is individual for everyone. The cost can be found on the websites of the railway
2. Loading and throwing on gas-66 for 3.5 thousand one way (7-8 hours). The total price is 7 thousand per person. (settlement with the driver)
3. Food is purchased separately by each participant and costs slightly less than what you spend on food at home when visiting grocery supermarkets.
There are no other expenses.
Day trips are not long (12-16 km.), because I have a lot of search and filming equipment and non-tourist skis. Skis wide forest with skins. They can't move fast. Such skis are needed to examine the storehouse and 4 tributaries of the Lozva in deep snow.
The clothes are primitive Chinese or Russian, as close as possible in terms of parameters to the clothes of the Dyatlov group.
A two-layer wind-resistant summer tent, a synthetic winterizer sleeping bag with an additional thin condenser that protects against moisture
In this sleeping bag I sleep dressed, without night stove heating.
Food is normal. 530 grams per person per day. (500 grams of sublimates, carbohydrates and fat, 30 grams of alcohol)
Hiking without a satellite phone and the ability to call for help for two reasons:
1. The situation is as close as possible to the campaign of 1959, where it was not possible to call for help.
2. No satellite phone
Registration with a message about the timing of the return to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Ivdel will be.
I will add more detailed information in Russian here: https://dyatlovpass1.ru/viewtopic.php?id=71#p451

[Олег Таймень]

Minor changes on the expedition to the Dyatlov Pass. The start and finish will be in Ushma, as the GAZ-66 will not go further. The road was covered with snow. The route is extended by 72 kilometers and 3 days. Added 4 walking days and minus one day of exploration at the pass. You can still join the expedition. There is time to prepare. Start March 12th. Details at the link:
https://dyatlovpass1.ru/viewtopic.php?id=71#p451

[Олег Таймень]

Fourth day of the trip. Climb to the obelisk

[Олег Таймень]

Sixth day of the trip. Ascent to the pass from the storehouse

[Олег Таймень]

Tenth day of the trip. Ascent from the stream in the ravine to the ridge.
The video will become available on April 1, 2023 at 14.00 Moscow time

[Олег Таймень]

On March 10, we left Novokuznetsk at 07.00 by train.
March 11 at 13.00 arrived at the station in Yekaterinburg. From 14.00 to 15.00 we met with Alexei Koskin and listened to a detailed story about the expedition with Semyashkin, where Alexei answered questions in detail about the depth of snow at the locations of snow bags near the cedar and on the slope. We received information about the temperature and wind strength at different points, which made it possible to draw up a clearer plan for spending the night and exploring the area, taking into account weather conditions. At 16.00 we met with Alexei Korolev and listened to an hour-long story, with answers to questions, about the February expedition. Boarded the Ivdel train.
On March 12 at 02.50 we arrived in Ivdel and slept at the station until 06.00. Dmitry Pushin picked us up from the station on gas-66 and at 10.30 drove us to the ravine on Ushminka. Until 13.00, they were waiting for a group of tourists, which Alexey Sambindalov brought on a snowmobile from Three Rivers. He also brought us to Ilyich's base, where we stayed for the night, because. it was already evening.
On March 13, we went towards the Dyatlov Pass and after passing 9.5 km we climbed the Chaikonur Pass, where we stopped for the night.
On March 14 we covered 11.5 km. and approached the crooked forest zone, 5 km. from the obelisk
On March 15, we climbed the obelisk and went down to the place of the storage shed of the State Duma. The parking lot was made on the other side of the trail, 30 meters from the storehouse
On March 16, a two-hour filming of the storehouse and its surroundings was carried out from different sides with two video cameras. We made measurements of snow in the area of ​​the flooring and neighboring points. We went down to the Kuntsevich camp and the winter camp of search engines. We took a lot of photos and videos.
On March 17, with great difficulty (1 hour 40 minutes), they climbed from the storehouse to the obelisk. In crooked forests on a crust of ice, the skis gave a strong return and the skin did not work. (Taking off your skis, you immediately go up to your chest ..). It was the hardest day of the whole trip. We spent all our strength until we got out with a load to the pass. Soaked with sweat and caught in a strong icy wind. Due to the lack of visibility, they hardly found the MP and trampled down their tracks a little lower. We considered it dangerous to put up a tent on a slope, because. she could not stand the powerful gusts of wind and decided to go down to the stream. In crooked forests, I had to put on skis. We set up camp just below the confluence of the streams.
On March 18, we spent the whole day experimenting with dragging fir-trees, digging a cave at the site of the flooring and making a fire near the cedar. We made many measurements of the depth of snow in different places.
On March 19, we climbed the MP and filmed footprints of the posts made by our boots two days ago on a flto video. With a strong wind, there was relative visibility and we took a lot of photos of the MP from different angles and from the top of the Halatchakhl spur. We took panoramic pictures in the crooked forest at each of the locations of the three bodies.
On March 20, all night and until one o'clock in the afternoon, they held the tent from the inside, propping up the arches with their backs so that they would not break. There was a strong hurricane that did not allow us to go back.
On March 21 we crossed the ridge with wind from 10-14 m/s with gusts up to 20 m/s. Everything was measured by the device and filmed on video. On this day we reached the Chaikonur pass. (5.5 hours CW)
On March 22 we crossed the pass and reached the base of Ilyich (3.5 hours of the CCT)
On March 23, we reached Ushma (11.5 hours CCT), in the evening we had an hour-long interview with Valery Anyamov about the natural disasters of the PD
On March 24, a three-hour interview was conducted about all the hunting huts of Lozva and Auspiya, about the Mansi storehouses and burial places, about flying balloons 100 km away. from the pass that his parents saw, about the snow board, hurricanes, fallen wood and wolverines, about the ski trail of the Dyatlov group and the missile silo at Chistop. Valery told his version of the death of the Dyatlov group. In the evening, we had a two-hour interview with Albina Anyamova about the flying balloons that she saw in her childhood and about the life and life of the Mansi in the 50s and 60s.
On March 25, they filmed Ushma and the Ushma rocks. Slept
On March 26, they threw Valery's snowmobile to the ravine on Ushminka and to the Ivdel railway station with Dmitry Pushin. At 22.00 boarded the train
March 27 arrived in Yekaterinburg. In the afternoon from 13.00 to 14.00 we discussed and compared with Alexei Korolev the results of two expeditions in terms of snow depth of the slope, stream and cedar. From 16.00 to 18.00 we discussed with Alexey Koskin the results of our observations/measurements. Alexey shared his plans for events for 2023 and talked about the future of the museum and further development..
March 28 at 05-00 boarded the train to Novokuznetsk
March 29 at 21.00 arrived
We filmed over 15 hours of video and many photos.

[Олег Таймень]

On March 17, they trampled down tracks 50-70 meters below the place of the tent.
On March 19, these footprints were filmed:

[Олег Таймень]

Three fir-trees, cut in different places, were dragged by the crown and tail. The needles do not fall off. At all. But, we skied it. When they started the experiment without skis, they found that it was impossible to move when you fell into the snow up to your waist. And it is the fir-trees that help to move at least somehow. Throwing the fir-tree, you can crawl on it on your knees. Relying on the fir-tree with your hands, you can pull the body out of the snowdrift, etc. And then the needles and small twigs fall off in large quantities.
You can also dig a cave with a fir-tree.

[Ziljoe]

Very interesting. For some reason , there's been a delay of this displaying in my posts.

[marieuk]

Same.  I've only just noticed these posts.  Amazing to see it first hand.  Look forward to more of your posts/thoughts etc. 

[Олег Таймень]

[Олег Таймень]

Valery Anyamov, a Mansi resident of Ushma, in this video calls the version of Wolverine the most stupid one you can think of
The interview was recorded during the March expedition

[Олег Таймень]

Mansi Valery Anyamov confirms that the ski trail of the Dyatlov group could have survived for three weeks in a dark coniferous forest. And there was no other ski trail of strangers.
The interview was recorded in the March expedition

[Олег Таймень]

The whole expedition is completely in several parts

[Олег Таймень]

The whole expedition is completely in several parts

[Олег Таймень]

[Олег Таймень]

[Manti]

For those watching the videos but only getting Russian and Off as subtitle options, I first had to select Russian and then another option appears, "Auto-translate" and then you can select any destination language from the menu that appears

[Олег Таймень]

[Олег Таймень]

[Ziljoe]

Thank you for the videos Олег Таймень.

I like to see the terrain and what might be possible.

[Manti]

On March 17, they trampled down tracks 50-70 meters below the place of the tent.
On March 19, these footprints were filmed:

2 day old footprints that look as eroded as the ones attributed to the Dyatlov group. I wonder how they would look after a month, probably completely blown away and not identifiable as a footprint any more.

[Ziljoe]

On March 17, they trampled down tracks 50-70 meters below the place of the tent.
On March 19, these footprints were filmed:

2 day old footprints that look as eroded as the ones attributed to the Dyatlov group. I wonder how they would look after a month, probably completely blown away and not identifiable as a footprint any more.

They say raised foot prints can last for months under the right conditions.

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/04/raised-footprints-in-snow.html


"What actually happens is when you step in the snow, the snow gets compressed and hardens, and then the wind blows the loose snow away leaving the once sunken footprints standing hard and proud on the surface. Eventually, the hardened snow gets eroded as well, but it takes weeks or even months. Raised snow footprints can last quite a while before all traces of the footprints are eroded away.

Because it requires more than a gale to blow away snow, raised footprints are often taken as an indicator of windslab and in mountain slopes, as potential avalanche danger"

[Manti]

Under the right conditions, sure. Are the conditions right on the slope of Kholat? Doesn't seem like it.


Anyway, I have been watching Олег's excellent videos and I am getting the sense that nothing the Dyatlov group did made any sense:

• They set up the tent in the most unsuitable place. It is the windiest, there is no firewood and the ground is hard ice, not snow. The forest is visible from there as a dark blob even in a blizzard
• They went to the forest without skis, even though deep snow that you sink into waist deep begins around the treeline
• They (some of them) went to the cedar which is on the other side if the stream, risking falling through the snow and getting wet. Again, waist deep snow all around the cedar area so they'd have had to crawl.
• They climbed the cedar, supposedly, to break off branches for a fire. There is abundant dry wood and bark closeby at arm height as Олег shows.
• Legend says they built a snow den in the snowbank of the stream. You not only risk getting wet but also are lying on rocks which are cold? As Oleg shows there is just no space for the flooring even if you dig a den
• They died 6-8 hours after their last meal, even though in the forest there's a lot of suitable firewood and they had matches and there is no apparent reason why they couldn't have sustained a fire

All of these are nicely demonstrated in the videos. I'm not sure what to think now... they weren't running away from anything because in the forest you crawl at snail speed, the slope is icy so you slip if you are in socks/felt boots and try to run.

[Ziljoe]

Under the right conditions, sure. Are the conditions right on the slope of Kholat? Doesn't seem like it.


Anyway, I have been watching Олег's excellent videos and I am getting the sense that nothing the Dyatlov group did made any sense:

• They set up the tent in the most unsuitable place. It is the windiest, there is no firewood and the ground is hard ice, not snow. The forest is visible from there as a dark blob even in a blizzard
• They went to the forest without skis, even though deep snow that you sink into waist deep begins around the treeline
• They (some of them) went to the cedar which is on the other side if the stream, risking falling through the snow and getting wet. Again, waist deep snow all around the cedar area so they'd have had to crawl.
• They climbed the cedar, supposedly, to break off branches for a fire. There is abundant dry wood and bark closeby at arm height as Олег shows.
• Legend says they built a snow den in the snowbank of the stream. You not only risk getting wet but also are lying on rocks which are cold? As Oleg shows there is just no space for the flooring even if you dig a den
• They died 6-8 hours after their last meal, even though in the forest there's a lot of suitable firewood and they had matches and there is no apparent reason why they couldn't have sustained a fire

All of these are nicely demonstrated in the videos. I'm not sure what to think now... they weren't running away from anything because in the forest you crawl at snail speed, the slope is icy so you slip if you are in socks/felt boots and try to run.

Good points and raises good counter questions for me.

• They set up the tent in the most unsuitable place. It is the windiest, there is no firewood and the ground is hard ice, not snow. The forest is visible from there as a dark blob even in a blizzard

The things I consider , maybe they had no choice but to pitch the tent there because of the weather or the weather was ok but they intended to go for wood after. We can see the hikers dig a hole in the slope and other videos show it being done. The day before there was a lot of wind so there may have been fresh snow drifts .


   

• They went to the forest without skis, even though deep snow that you sink into waist deep begins around the treeline

This seems to be the case. They seem to have had no choice.


   

• They (some of them) went to the cedar which is on the other side if the stream, risking falling through the snow and getting wet. Again, waist deep snow all around the cedar area so they'd have had to crawl.

The ceder seems to be the place with least snow, so they could at least stand. Even if snow is waste deep they had to try something. Maybe they did fall through the snow and get wet?. Could it be that the two Yuri's were separated by the ravine 4 falling and the other 3 then stuck on the other side and having to return to the tent? .

   

• They climbed the cedar, supposedly, to break off branches for a fire. There is abundant dry wood and bark closeby at arm height as Олег shows.

I'm not sure about the wood and this raises a question


   

• Legend says they built a snow den in the snowbank of the stream. You not only risk getting wet but also are lying on rocks which are cold? As Oleg shows there is just no space for the flooring even if you dig a den

It seems the den existed as per the photos, and there was space there. There is questions about the location of the ravine so I don't know which is the correct location . I agree that lying on rocks would not be a chosen option and not a planned survival strategy.


   

• They died 6-8 hours after their last meal, even though in the forest there's a lot of suitable firewood and they had matches and there is no apparent reason why they couldn't have sustained a fire

It is speculative that they died 6-8 hours after their last meal due to the process of understanding cold on the body. The firewood will be different quality every year. If damp and frozen then it will not burn, I believe this is why the Mansi stack their wood on their trails. However, even if poor wood , it is reasonable that there would have been a pile of unburned branches found by the searcher's.

[Manti]

• They set up the tent in the most unsuitable place. It is the windiest, there is no firewood and the ground is hard ice, not snow. The forest is visible from there as a dark blob even in a blizzard

The things I consider , maybe they had no choice but to pitch the tent there because of the weather or the weather was ok but they intended to go for wood after. We can see the hikers dig a hole in the slope and other videos show it being done. The day before there was a lot of wind so there may have been fresh snow drifts .

When Олег goes to the tent site for the first time, it's during a blizzard with very low visibility. The forest is still discernible as a darker, lower area. In addition, it was indicated on the maps the Dyatlov group had.

As for going for wood later, that's not possible because they would need their skis but they set up the tent on top of the skis.

We can see the hikers dig a hole. Now I think it is most likely not at the tent site. Loose snow is visible on that photo, but at the tent site the combination of the steepness of the slope and the strong wind would just not allow such accumulation to occur.

   

• They (some of them) went to the cedar which is on the other side if the stream, risking falling through the snow and getting wet. Again, waist deep snow all around the cedar area so they'd have had to crawl.

The ceder seems to be the place with least snow, so they could at least stand. Even if snow is waste deep they had to try something.

They couldn't have stood there. In the videos, Olga tries to climb the cedar and keeps sinking into the snow. The cedar area is no different than any other area closeby.. There is nothing there that isn't available elsewhere in the forest. Of course snow depth varies but it was pretty consistently around 1 - 1.5m where they measured it, including next to the cedar.

Maybe they did fall through the snow and get wet?. Could it be that the two Yuri's were separated by the ravine 4 falling and the other 3 then stuck on the other side and having to return to the tent? .

Maybe but I don't think the others would have to return to the tent. Igor camped on the other side of the stream, seems like a place that's just as good for starting a fire as near the cedar. Just as protected from the wind and plenty of firewood.

       
   

• They died 6-8 hours after their last meal, even though in the forest there's a lot of suitable firewood and they had matches and there is no apparent reason why they couldn't have sustained a fire

It is speculative that they died 6-8 hours after their last meal due to the process of understanding cold on the body. The firewood will be different quality every year. If damp and frozen then it will not burn, I believe this is why the Mansi stack their wood on their trails. However, even if poor wood , it is reasonable that there would have been a pile of unburned branches found by the searcher's.

There are a lot of birch trees around and the bark can be used as tinder. If damp, the cedar's branches will also be damp. It's just that getting firewood can't be the reason for climbing the cedar. I don't think trying to escape from something or someone can be the reason either because of having to crawl to the tree, very slow. Maybe crossing the stream and climbing the tree could indicate trying to get away from something like a bear, hoping it wouldn't risk the deep snow above the stream, but nobody was mauled. If it is true that skin from the hikers was found high up on the cedar, as crazy as that sounds, maybe they fell on it from above. One of the first theories mentioned in the case files is a hurricane. It's not a popular theory at all. But after seeing the terrain and conditions in such detail, I can see why they considered that a possibility. The wind is very strong at the tent site. The cedar is too deep in to forest if you just want a place to start a campfire. The traumatic injuries would also be explained. The only problem is that the tent stayed in place...

[Олег Таймень]

[Олег Таймень]