Mystery Dyatlov Pass Incident Solved?

Probably the most creepy place in Russia is called the Dyatlov Pass, or more ominously “the Mountain of the Dead.” The pass lies in northern Ural Mountains where the Sverdlovsk region borders on the Russian republic of Komi and is associated with unaccountable deaths.

The tragedy that happened to Igor Dyatlov’s expedition back in February 1959 is still fresh in people’s minds. As darkness fell, the group of nine alpine climbers set up a camp on the mount’s slop – and perished the same night. Investigators said the half-naked hikers cut open the tent from the inside and fled in fear for the village.

Most of them died from cold, although three of the dead had fractured ribs and smashed sculls, while one of the women had her tongue ripped out. All bodies had no signs of struggle or bruises, their skin had a very weird purplish tint to it, the hair was grey and the faces were masks of horror.

Experts also discovered that the bodies had an extreme radiation level, ten times higher than normal.

An investigation by a Soviet government inspector was also fruitless, and was quietly dropped after concluding nobody was to blame. Lev Ivanov, the inspector, concluded only that all nine deaths had been caused by what he described as ‘an unknown elemental force which they were unable to overcome.’ The investigation soon ceased.

Mystery solved?

Dead of the nine hikers caused by panic-inducing Infrasound - Soundwaves?

The mysterious case of the nine experienced skiers who died in bizarre circumstances may have been solved by an America researcher.

Donnie Eichar, a film-maker and author, spent four years investigating the so-called Dyatlov Pass incident, and has now claimed that he has discovered a 'scientific' explanation for this mysterious case.

While Eichar prefers to save the details for those who read the book "Dead Mountain: The untold story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident", suffice to say that his theory involves a particular type of repetitive wind event.

In a recent interview with Failure magazine, Mr Eichar hinted at his conclusion, saying: 'The conclusion that I have come up with could only have happened with the help of modern science and the help of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.'

Jason Zasky, who interviewed Mr Eichar, also wrote that Mr Eichar's theory of a particular type of repetitive wind event (one that could be produced by the topography of Dead Mountain), might have triggered a panic-inducing infrasound.

The 'infrasound' theory to which the interviewer refers is a bizarre - but apparently plausible - explanation which argues that sound waves too low to hear could have subtly affected the minds of the skiers, panicking them and causing them to rush recklessly out into the snow, where the cold killed them.

Studied have suggested that infrasound - soundwaves too low for humans to hear - can nonetheless produce feelings of unease, awe or even terror which cannot be explained any other way. Infrasound waves covering sounds beneath 20 Hz down to 0.001 Hz. and it eminates from many natural and man-made sources.

Note: Despite the theory of Mr Eichar, panic-inducing Infrasound is the possible cause of the death of the 9 hikers, it does not explain  that the bodies had an extreme radiation level, tongue ripped out, fractured ribs and smashed sculls, burnt spots on the bodies, grey hair and eyes were removed. Given the nature of the injuries, it seems impossible that an infrasound wave is the direct cause of the death of these people.

The Hikers and Hikers Photo Gallery (Photos from Dyatlov hikers recovered camera 1959.)