Standing on the same spot the Dietlov nine erected their tent before their tragic demise sixty years ago, Josh, Teddy, and Michael try to figure out what happened at this place and who or what was responsible for these gruesome deaths. To do that, they had to discuss theories.
Several theories exist regarding what happened to the Dietlov nine, one of which is that nearby locals attacked the students and killed them. While this may seem plausible, there was no evidence tying the locals to the scene of the incident and they even helped with the investigation throughout its course. Therefore, the “locals” attack theory was put to bed.
Next, there was another theory that the students were attacked by a strange figure caught on one of the photos – a Russian “big foot,” a mystical creature standing over six feet tall and full of hair. As creepy as this theory sounds, it looked plausible until further photos revealed that the strange figure lurking in the background was in fact one of the hikers – another theory put to bed.
The theory that a prison escapee from an enclosure a few miles away was also put to bed, as it was impossible to walk that far to attack nine people and leave their clothes, their money, and boots unattended to. In the cold Siberian climate, warmth is equal to survival. The prisoner escapee theory was scratched off the list. Now, Teddy offers her theory, she thinks that the students were forced out of their tents and killed by soviet soldiers due to the fact that the nine saw something they shouldn’t have – a weapon’s testing.
In actual fact, around the time the incident occurred, the Soviet Union had just created a new missile, and it was possible they were testing it in the wilderness and that was what killed the nine youngsters. To understand if this is really the case, we must revisit the exact happenings of that night at the now Dietlov Pass sixty years ago. What we know for sure is that the tent was set up and the students were inside it. After their demise, investigators observe that their tent was slashed open from the inside, possibly with two knives. This indicates that they were forced out of their tent by imminent danger. However, more questions arise – keeping in mind the harsh weather conditions, a rational human would not venture out of the tent with scanty clothes and barefoot. This indicates that something must have spooked them bad.
Back to Teddy’s theory, it is unlikely that the students were forced out of their tent by soviet soldiers or any hostile human force because there were no footprints detected approaching the tent – only going out. So that theory was laid to rest.
The more obvious theory of a UFO sighting and weapon’s test looks promising, as traces of camera shots taken by a hiker just before indicates a bright light they came out to see. It would also explain the rocket piece found close to the hikers’ campsite. Michael also suggests they were killed by a chemical test in the area. They inhaled toxic gas and forced their way out of the tent for air or safety. Somewhat plausible.
Another plausible theory is an avalanche forcing the hikers out of their tent into safety. It is to be noted how their bodies were found. Two were first found frozen to death, half naked in the snow, and their hands facing upwards above their heads like their clothes were yanked off. Two more were found a few distances from the tent, and their posture was most interesting – they appeared to be struggling to go back into the tent but they died before making it. In between their scattered bodies was another hiker with a fractured skull. The remaining five were found in the river five months after missing their eyes and tongue.
Something must have spooked them outside their tent to run out a mile away, most likely an avalanche. In an attempt to get back into the tent, the harsh climate got them first. The fractured skull on one of the deceased could be explained as from a fall while struggling. The first two bodies found were naked because probably they lost the fight, and their colleagues tried to salvage their clothes for warmth. The missing eyes and tongue could be explained as animals or insects eating the corpse since some of the bodies were found five months after the incident.
Furthermore, radiation was detected from some of their clothes, which sparked theories of weapon testing in the area. To know for sure, Josh takes out samples of the core of nearby trees to send to the lab and see if radiation still exists. It could still be detected even after so many years. The process takes the whole day and it is time to return to base before the harsh cold claims more lives.
Returning to Yekaterinburg, Josh gets a call from his old friend Yuri, who reveals to him a new piece of information that changes everything – documents that point to the fact that the authorities knew about the incident before investigation took place. Was the government trying to cover up something? Chemicals in the area? Weapons? Or clearing the area of anything that could tie the Soviet Union government to the gruesome murders? Did the authorities have a hand in this? If they did, how?
In the end, we are still left with more theories and speculations. An avalanche? Weapons test? UFO? What was this “unknown” compelling force?”
Fortunately, the Russian government has agreed to reopen the case. Maybe a closer look into the government’s record would share more insight about what happened at Dietlov Pass sixty years ago.
