71: History's Mysteries pt.2: A Soviet Secret

Sep 18, 20244 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago

"What happened at the Dyatlov Pass?" Is one of the 20th centuries greatest historical mysteries. How could so many experienced, healthy, and prepared young people have passed away like they did? And perhaps even more pressing, what happened to their bodies? In this week's episode, Maia leads Grant throughout some of the theories of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. From the events leading up to the final night, to the fall out. Together, we explore this Soviet secret.

Our longest episode yet and we ... won't be doing this again.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Catch-Up

00:26:16 A Soviet Secret

00:37:04 Meet Your Characters

01:01:10 The Journey

01:47:33 Into the Mountains

02:10:10 February 1st

Missing

The Tent

The First 5

Investigation

The Remaining 4

Modern Investigation

Theories

Final Thoughts

Photos Referenced:

*Dyatlov Group heading up Mt Kholat-Syakhl*

Igor Dyatlov	Zinaida ("Zina") Kolmogorova
Yuri Doroshenko	Rustem ("Rustik") Slobodin
Lyudmila ("Lyuda") Dubinina	Nikolay ("Tibo") Thibeaux-Brignolles
Semyon ("Sasha") Zolotaryov	Aleksander ("Sasha") Kolevatov
Georgiy ("Yuri") Krivonischenko	Yuri Yudin
Dyatlov Group Planned Route - explore the map yourself here	Bus to Ivdel
Dyatlov Group with the horse drawn sled on their way to the 2nd Northern from Settlement 41	Yuri Yudin's last day: Lyuda (far right) hugging Yuri Y, Igor Dyatlov back left
Yuri Yudin's last day: Zina (left) saying goodbye to Yuri Y, Semyon back right	Yuri Yudin's last day: Zina falls while hugging Yuri Y who is helping her up
Left to Right: Tibo, Lyuda, Semyon, Zina	Left to Right: Tibo and Semyon
Left to Right: Lyuda, Rustem, Tibo, Zina (kneeling) - taken by Yuri K	Example of Mansi writings on the trail

Fourth to last page written on in Zina's diary - Zina's last entry on Jan 30th	Third to last page written on
Second to last page written on - potentially translates to instructions for operating a film camera	Last page with writing in Zina's diary - translates to "Remple" - the name of the hunter who advised Igor that the route would take longer than anticipated

Igor Dyatlov (far left) giving instructions to the rest of the group as they gear up for their ascent up Kholat-Syakhl	Dyatlov Group route change - Mt Otorten at the top of the route, planned route in purple, actual route taken in blue - explore the map for yourself here
Dyatlov group heading up Mt Kholat Syakhl	Dyatlov group digging out snow to set up their tent for what will be the final time on Mt Kholat Syakhl
Frame 34 (the last frame) of Yuri Krivonischenko's Camera	The footprints found near the Dyatlov Group's tent - analysis shows the footprints are moving away from the tent toward the cedar tree and the strides are walking length
Funeral for Yuri D, Yuri K, and Zina on March 9th at Mikaylovskoe Cemetery	Zina's family surrounding the body of Zina at her funeral - taken by Zina's sister

*Dyatlov Group tent recovered - showing how it was ripped*

Frame 1 of Semyon's "Secret" Camera - the remaining frames can be seen (with discretion - there are post-mortem photos on this page as well) here — *Frame 1 of Semyon's "Secret" Camera - the remaining frames can be seen (with discretion - there are post-mortem photos on this page as well)* *here*

(Both photos above) Bulgarian forensic scientist analysis of the footprints concluding that: the footprints were probably made by shod (feed in shoes) feet, at least 2 people made the prints, the prints are walking, and the prints are moving away from the tent — *(Both photos above) Bulgarian forensic scientist analysis of the footprints concluding that: the footprints were probably made by* ***shod (feed in shoes)*** *feet, at least 2 people made the prints, the prints are walking, and the prints are moving away from the tent*

*The infamous "Russian Yeti" photo - Frame 17 from Nikolay's ("Tibo") Camera*

Frame 13 from Nikolay's ("Tibo") Camera	Frame 14 from Nikolay's ("Tibo") Camera
Frame 15 from Nikolay's ("Tibo") Camera	Frame 16 from Nikolay's ("Tibo") Camera
Photo taken by the group as they set-up the tent (Feb 1) - this ski pole circled in red can also be seen in the photo above taken around the same time	Photo taken by the search part of the Dyatlov tent (Feb 26) - ski pole in the same place as teh Feb 1 photo - the biggest argument against the avalanche theory
Memorial to the Dyatlov Group in Mihaylovskoe Cemetery - erected in 1962	Memorial to the Dyatlov Group in Mihaylovskoe Cemetery - erected in 1962