In February 1959, nine experienced hikers died under bizarre circumstances in the Ural Mountains of the Soviet Union, leaving behind one of history’s most enduring mysteries. The newest edition of After Dark Radio with special guest Royce Isaacs talks in detail about the story and the many theories over the last 70-plus years about what happened.
Led by 23-year-old Igor Dyatlov (for whom the pass was subsequently renamed), the group was attempting a challenging winter expedition when something went terribly wrong. On February 26, searchers discovered their abandoned tent on a remote mountainside. Strangely, it had been slashed open from the inside (the story would have been more bizarre had it been slashed open from the outside), and the hikers’ belongings, including warm clothing and boots, remained behind.
Footprints suggested the group had fled into the freezing darkness, some barefoot or wearing only socks and/or underwear. Their bodies were discovered over the following months, scattered across the mountainside. Some had apparently died from hypothermia, but others suffered devastating injuries, including fractured skulls and crushed ribs. One woman was missing her tongue, several were allegedly missing their eyes, and traces of radioactive contamination were detected on certain clothing items.
What could have driven nine experienced outdoorsmen to abandon their shelter in temperatures approaching minus 30 degrees? Theories have ranged from military weapons testing and secret Soviet experiments to attacks by unknown creatures (including, yes, THE YETI), and some sort of UFO encounter.
In 2020, Russian authorities re-investigated the case and used computer modeling to conclude that an avalanche was likely responsible. Subsequent scientific research demonstrated how a small slab avalanche could have occurred despite the seemingly unusual terrain.
However, questions remain about the hikers’ behavior, their injuries, and the precise sequence of events — plus the fact that the tent was intact, meaning it had not, in fact, itself been struck by a small slab avalanche.
More than six decades later, the Dyatlov Pass incident continues to fascinate investigators, researchers, conspiracy theorists, and, yes, PRO WRESTLERS, around the world.