Put yourself in their places for a moment

[GlennM]

Imagine you are in the tent on 1079 and the unknown compelling force strikes. If you had the luxury of time, you would ready yourself to leave the tent and return. You don't have time. Two minutes. Count to 120 and think that is all the time you have before bugging out. Time to go!  What  do you take?

For me, I think I would instinctivly grab my backpack, even in total darkness. I am then ready to go and not delaying departure. I might grab for boots, but would have to carry them in the interests of time. Then again, without skis, why take boots?

When I read the case files, it is clear that all the " good stuff" was left behind. What did they bring besides the clothes on their backs and what was in their clothes pockets? It seems only a flashlight and a couple of chopping knives is about all! I'd bet the knives were grabbed to get out of the tent and nothing more.

Breathing, bleeding, broken bones, burns. Breathing is most urgent.The air inside could be fouled by an animal or burned celluloid film. The air could cut off in a collapse of the tent. A slab slide would do that pushed by catabatic wind.

You have two minutes to choose as if your life depended on it.What would you take. Then again if you felt your life did not depend on it, what would you take?

[amashilu]

Yes, I have thought about this many times. I would say they had less than 2 minutes. These were experienced winter hikers, not newbies. They would never leave the tent without their boots and 2 minutes is enough time to get your boots. I would say they had 5 seconds. Whatever forced them out of the tent was absolutely immediate.

[ahabmyth]

Does anyone know if the tent had an inbuilt floor or just open and make a waterproof floor yourselves type of tent.
A localised "earthquake" could have rattled them but if it only lasted seconds they would be back in the tent packing up.

I think 2 minutes is too long by about 2 minutes, If the hikers had their own parking spot would they have been able to grab shoes etc in the dark ???.

 I read somewhere that the group had 2 miners lamps for light, any ideas I haven't seen these mentioned by anyone.

So we have whoever going to the treeline and its Cedars to forage for suitable firewood. Besides branches that could be snapped off we hear of branches being cut using knives which is very hard to do especially if they find the wood is green. Now I am fairly sure that their gear consisted of the odd knife and a " Cross Cut saw " that I seem to remember being on one persons back pack.
Has anyone else seen the pic with this included, I think I saw it in the towns before the final hike.

If this "saw" had been readily available at the time it could have affected the total outcome of this incident. Maybe it was left at the Labaz for some reason.

[GlennM]

Two minutes is an eternity if you really have to move! The shorter time frame of less than two minutes supports them not grabbing for their backpacks or anything else of importance before bugging out of the tent. Ironically, as evidenced by footprints in the snow, the descent appeared to be a march, not a run. Nothing to suggest foot dragging or falls in the deeper snow. Curious.

I want to believe that they were ill prepared because they were planning on a fast return. Once in the forest it appears a succession of calamities befell them, none indicative of carelessness. These caused delays which was their undoing.

I suppose that if they left the tent owing to a slab slide in the dark, it was more prudent to get to the trees and make a fire than to dig the tent out in those uncertain comditions. A big problem for me is the presence of the flashlight on the tent. That is wholly unlikely in a snow slide.

[SURI]

Time may not have played any role in why they left the tent and didn't take their belongings.


Lebedev Vladimir Aleksandrovich

"In the tent we found a ski pole from which the upper end was cut off along a neat end cut and another cut was made. This suggests that apparently someone stayed in the tent much later than others, maybe for a day. Because no one will cut a pole, that may still be useful, because there is nothing else to do."

https://dyatlovpass.com/case-files-313-315?rbid=17743

[sarapuk]

Seeing as how the tent factor is a hot topic at the moment. There is a problem immediately, however. We can put ourselves in a tent on a hillside in bad weather conditions in the dark, but we don't know what happens for us to be able to make a decision. It's back to pure speculation again.

[ilahiyol]

Yes, I have thought about this many times. I would say they had less than 2 minutes. These were experienced winter hikers, not newbies. They would never leave the tent without their boots and 2 minutes is enough time to get your boots. I would say they had 5 seconds. Whatever forced them out of the tent was absolutely immediate.

If they had even one minute, not two, they would all have put on their boots. They would even have taken their other belongings with them. They had absolutely no time. As I said before, the Unknown compelling force appeared to the young people from a relatively far distance!!! It must have been night. Because there are peepholes in the tent. They saw something glowing in the darkness of the night. And they cut peepholes in the tent to see it better! I estimate the distance must have been around 300 meters. Then the Unknown Force slowly approached the tent! I estimate this period must have been 1-2 minutes.During this time, some young people put on their boots. Some continued to look at the unknown force. Those who were wearing their boots had guessed that they would come out of the tent and had acted early and put on their boots. Others must not have guessed this. And they continued to look at the unknown force in amazement until they came to the tent. But the unknown force attacked the tent!!! The experienced and brave young people must have resisted for a long time... Because outside, half-naked, meant death. But the last attack of the unknown force was very THREATEN!!! The young people were very scared and finally tore the tent apart and left!!! They did not run away. Because the unknown force's goal was to get them out of the tent. Not to kill them, and the young people knew that.