What do the footsteps say?

[amashilu]

I have read many times about the footsteps being "side by side" or in a "single file" and many other ways of explaining how they were arranged. But does this mean that the hikers went down the slope in couples (side by side), 2 x 2,  one couple at a time, with couples following each other?  Or does it mean that they all stood in one long line, 9 people in one long line (single file)?

According to this image (https://dyatlovpass.com/1959-search?flp=1#the-tent),  they actually stood in one long line, all nine of them, close to one another. This seems like the best arrangement to take care of people. If it is dark and you cannot see the rocky ledge or other dangers ahead, holding onto each other in one long line would be the smartest way to travel; if one person slipped or twisted their ankle, he or she would be held up by the two on either side of them.

To me, this arrangement quite definitively rules out infighting in the group. They were standing and walking together, holding onto one another, and proceeding slowly and cautiously.

Quote from Teddy, same page as referenced above:  "Overall the path gave an impression of organized and uneventful descent down the slope of the mountain."

[Ziljoe]

A really good point amashilu

I came to similar conclusion about this too. I have also walked down a hill in the dark and did the exact same thing although it was only 3 of us . It was a gentle slope but we couldn't see , so supported each other by being at each others side walking slowly.

If I remember correctly, one of the statements said there were two sets of paths that diverged at some point , 3 and 6 people then came back together. If the event had been staged it would be easier to fake a single file path. No one would be able to tell how many people had walked the path if it were single file.

One other reason I can think as to why they walked abreast, is if someone was following from behind with perhaps a gun. It would be easier to control the group if any were to try and run down hill. If it were single file , the person at the front could get further away without leaving a clean shooting angle for example, after a 100meters in poor light and a single shot rifle it would perhaps not be easy to shoot.

Another reason could be they were searching for something but I can't think of anything that important that they would go further than a few meters , not even bank notes or paperwork. It can't of been someone blown down the slope as we have the walking footprints which means they were walking upright.

The footprints next to eachother suggests they were together as a unit and for whatever reason, walking abreast seemed to have some kind of advantage over single file or by pairs .

[amashilu]

Ziljoe, yes, and you are right about the two options: 1) They all agreed that the tent was now uninhabitable— they couldn't even return for their shoes. So they organized into a safe and cautious line, holding onto one another, and started to descend to the treeline.  Or 2) a person wearing boots walked behind them with a gun.

I don't see infighting as an option.

[GlennM]

Looking at the diagram makes me think Igor et.al. did not have a ghost of a chance of getting back to that tent. They were in no condition to achieve it, yet they could no nothing else. It appears a desperate and brave attempt to beat the odds. I do not support the idea they were out in the open to signal an airplane. They were not prepared.

For me, the footprints suggest an orderly descent with no foot dragging. They got out of the tent while the getting was good. They stayed too long in the woods and fell victim to the Russian Winter.