Hypothermia is no joke and I'm ready to fight for it

[Osi]

There is a 3-4 meter high accumulation of snow on the side plateaus, much less snow in the lower parts where the water flows, the valley floor is rough, covered with large and small pebbles. The hardened and icy ground is covered with snow that is soft enough to be unnoticeable, suitable for falling. This is the picture that the conditions in the winter of 59 presented to us.

However, I convinced myself that the traumas resulting from falling face down on pebbles from a height of 10 feet can occur when 3 or 4 people fall at the same time, rather than falling alone. Because when a single person falls, they are more controlled and show reflexes in a way that will harm themselves less. However, when one of the 3 people who are trying to move forward in the dark by hugging or holding hands falls, it causes the others to lose control. The driving force comes into play and causes the free individual who is further ahead or in the direction of falling to fall harder and more uncontrollably. Going back to the beginning, could it be that the decision to spend a night on a forest-free slope, as a result of a decision made under more favorable conditions (except for a few members who did not approve of this decision), caused some of the dissenting members to abandon the tent and flee into the forest when the weather got harsh and a snowstorm started after the tent was set up?

Could it be that Dyatlov did not allow this and that as a result of the argument in the tent, Dyatlov closed the entrance to the tent, which caused the members who were very insistent and angry about cutting down the tent to abandon the tent and go to destroy it*

Could it be that the disagreement between a few members who believed that they would succumb to hypothermia in the later hours of the fireless night on the Kholat slope and the other members who wanted to experience the experience to the fullest divided the group?

[GlennM]

Osi, then the unknown compelling force in your opinion was an arguement on the best way to avoid hypothermia. You suggest the idea that within the tent, and without heat, several hikers argued and then departed the tent in order to make fire and survive the night. It would make sense that others who stayed would cut the tent for viewing holes to watch their friends depart. Too, it would make sense to place a flashlight on the tent as a signal should they return. The flashlight midway down the slope is harder to explain unless the intention was for the departed group to actually come back with wood for the stove.
I think it not too smart that the 9 in the tent did not carry something to burn for the night on 1079 from the labaz site.

I can envision a mutiny after several people left the tent. During this rebellion, the tent was cut up as an example of defiance and its uselessness. Perhaps the exchange of high words included forester Rempel's admonition not to try for Ortoten in those wintery conditions.

It seems likely that the two Yuris struck out for the forest first, since they were at the cedar. However, my instinct says Zolo, as a soldier and an outsider to the group was more likely the main dissenting voice. Igor, Rustem and Zina on one side, all the rest on the other. Zolo and party look for a windbreak in the trees or a ravine and fall through a cornice with eventually fatal injuries.

We have to explain the garment trail to the ravine and the branches. We have to deal with where within the ravine those 4 were found and why they were found like that.

There is always room for supposition, but supposition without accounting for all the facts is unconvincing. I hope you continue to flesh out this new line of thought.

[Osi]

I don't believe the struggle could have been violent enough to cut down the tent, but disloyal enough to end the expedition. A sudden outburst of anger against the cold. After things calmed down, a sense of regret must have come to the fore in both groups. Let's reunite in the morning, make peace and continue the expedition.  Of course, the tent cuts became peepholes out of necessity. Large cuts were tried to be covered with clothes, but it was not possible to make a hole for peeping.
I agree that the idea of leaving the tent was spearheaded by Zolo, who had experience of survival without equipment, but who were the others? The ones who were found better dressed? Liyutmila, Kolova, Tibo?
The story told so far is a plausible, logical assumption. But why the other group in the tent did not go down into the forest in protective clothing to look for their friends is a mystery.
1- Those who chose to stay in the tent might have gotten really cold and thought that Zolo was right.
2- They must have seen the fire burning in the forest from the tent. Let's leave the wet rough clothes here and run quickly to the fire.
3- Or Kolovatov asking for help from the tent after a few of them were injured in the forest.
The most valid explanation for going into the forest with inadequate clothing must be a cry for help.
The flashlight hung in the tent seems to be a temporary measure. Either in case the first helpers need to return to the tent, or as a beacon to guide the first group to regret leaving the tent and come back.


Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[GlennM]

There is one complication which is vexing. We know from the autopsy reports about the hikers state of dress. Because of this, it is hard to reconcile them arguing about a fire and hypothermia at the tent when they were not fully dressed, including footwear while inside the tent.Because of this, one may suspect that the tent was actually warmer than we assumed. Also, if getting to fire was the issue, one does not seek it until one is dressed and ready for the rigors of trekking, gathering and transporting firewood. Simply said, you do not go looking for firewood until you put your boots on.

I think an internal conflict may have divided the group. Igor vs Zolo seems obvious, but if nine sets of tracks are witnessed leading from the tent , even if they were made at different times, there was some idea that going downslope would benefit all.