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"In savage winter conditions, and over a vast stretch of ground, all nine fought for their own and one another's lives with the bravery and endurance worthy of Grade III hikers. It was a distinction they would never earn, but one that each of them so rightly deserved."

An excellent investigation into the Dyatlov Pass tragedy; though ultimately, I am left with more questions that replace those answered in this book. I've laid awake at night, tossing and turning over the seemingly absurd amalgamation of events and evidence. I can see the hikers' faces when I close my eyes now. The humanity of their expedition brings tears to my eyes. Eight of these were college students, young people in love with the wilderness and with learning. The ninth, a professor. They traveled together, collected data together, shared meals together, and laughed together. They snuck one student onto the train because they couldn't all afford tickets. They took funny photographs of each other. The youngest was a 20-year-old woman; the oldest student a mere 24.

In brutally simplified language: This was a remarkable group of individuals who I believe never anticipated what would happen to them that night of February 1st and the morning of February 2nd, 1959 in the Ural Mountains.



Why. Why, why, why. Why would nine experienced, courageous, and intelligent Grade II hikers flee the safe-haven of their tent in subzero temperatures wearing such scant clothing as socks and long-sleeved button-up shirts? Why would they risk damaging their tent by cutting it open from the side instead of exiting out its front? Why did they all walk a mile away from camp, in the same direction but not in a uniform line, during the dead of a moonless night? Why were the bodies with the most internal damage located the furthest away from the camp, and why do these bodies have little to no external trauma? Why did only five-to-six of the hikers die from hypothermia instead of all nine? Why, why did this true horror story have to happen?

While it's true that some of the most gruesome and confusing facts about the case can be easily and rationally explained (such as the missing tongue and eyes), there are many more that have bewildered and haunted the most seasoned of investigators, forensic experts, and fellow extreme wilderness adventurers. And yes, while it's also true that several theories can be safely debunked, such as an avalanche, more than one plausible theory remain, and each have holes in their narrative.

My greatest anxiety in our uncertainty of the events that took place that night is, frankly, the possibility that humans are ultimately at blame. I would like to make something abundantly clear: I vehemently disagree with any theory arguing that one or several of the hikers attacked or coerced any of the other hikers. It's my opinion that the evidence we do have clearly indicates heroic and selfless acts of care-taking and strong, emotional ties between the hikers as they fought for their lives. I cannot, however, lay to rest the possibility that the Soviet government was in some way involved in the events which took place that night, regardless of how much I would like to believe that this really was the result of "a compelling unknown force." In reality, we simply don't know what happened.

Update since this book's publication: the case has been reopened by the Russian government and is under ongoing investigation. A letter suggesting that the Soviet government tampered with the initial investigation is rumored to have surfaced. Could this be a smoking gun? We may have to wait many more years to find the truth.