Why did (here I apologize for not providing the names, because I am still learning) some die of hypothermia while others suffered severe wounds?
Hi Timothy,
From what I've managed to understand is the group largely died from the cold and exposure. The autopsy reports don't seem to be hiding anything and are written in the style and method of its time.
Although still a struggle to explain , it must be noted that the injuries at the ravine are similar with crush injuries. Especially with the lungs ribs and heart. Many will argue but where the injuries occurred is also important, at the tree , tent site or Ravine.
The four main natural explanations for the ravine 4 injuries are , 1)a falling tree ,2) falling out of the tree ,3) snow den collapse at the ravine,4) a slab slide at the tent on the slope.
If one or more of the group perpetrated the attacks they would most certainly have returned to the tent for clothing. The attacks came from outside and the attacker(s) chased some down and used primitive means to kill their prey. Some escaped and hid while the tent was guarded. Those that could attempted to get to the tent but perished before they could make it back.
A huge problem is we have no motive for an attack , the hikers are a formidable force of 9 fit and strong people , so anyone trying to attack would need extra numbers of people or a gun. There are no traces of footprints /ski prints / campsites or signs of others in the area, this was concluded during the initial search phase following the path of the hikers and working backwards from Ortorten to where they eventually found the tent.
Soldiers of any army would have used knives, guns or any means to kill those they were pursuing. What would the soldiers have to be concerned about regarding the method of death for those of the Dyatlov group if they were ordered to kill?
I don't believe it was soldiers as the method was so sloppy.
I agree with you here, a bullet to the head and move on. I don't think anyone is chasing anyone around in the wild. Any attackers would have the same logistical problems, carrying food , their own shelter , blankets , the cold and that the weather might trap them for days anywhere in the mountains. But as you move on to say there were Mansi in the area , they would notice many things.
I have to ask the question: who would even know that the group was at that very spot in order to create this entire tragedy?
Just thinking out loud, but why dismiss the entire Mansi population?
Perhaps they felt disrespected in some way after or during the Dyatlov visit. I can't imagine that one individual was able to subdue nine individuals without struggle.
Given the culture of the time in the Soviet Union, the public may have been spared the gruesome events near Otorton. In other words, a coverup.
They the Mansi were initially suspected but nothing was found. Some have made a link to one of the Mansi though , he was charged with murder at some point and was in one of the prison's but came to be quite successful, his family name also seems to be on one of the photos of the Mansi tree signs. He was involved in the search and according to another author had a checkered pass.
If no one had escaped from the Gulag (not saying this is impossible, but why draw attention to yourself by chasing down and murdering people) then who is left? I keep coming back to the Mansi.
I just received the book "1079" and intend to read it. Maybe I will be persuaded to change my opinion.
Nature is left .