# What made nine experienced ski-tourers cut their way out of the tent and leave it, underdressed, in the dark? · Dyatlov Pass incident > Six answers have been proposed. A small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:20+00:00 --- **0** # What made nine experienced ski-tourers cut their way out of the tent and leave it, underdressed, in the dark? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·6 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: a small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Six answers have been proposed. A small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,… leads, with evidence 3 for, 3 against: supported by its tests. Five are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Everything strange about the case follows from this decision. The tent held the boots, clothing and stove they needed to live; leaving it at −25 °C without them was fatal, and they knew it⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of). Each explanation is, at bottom, a reason to leave. ## Answers 6 [**A small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DK4C79EX/a-small-slab-avalanche-released-from-the-wind-loaded-slope) Supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 3 against Most likely [**A nearby weapons test (rocket, parachute mines) injured or terrified the group and was then covered up.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DQ1C0Q1W/a-nearby-weapons-test-rocket-parachute-mines-injured-or) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**A sudden violent katabatic wind made the tent untenable and drove the group to the forest for shelter; cold…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DMV20E5D/a-sudden-violent-katabatic-wind-made-the-tent-untenable-and) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DQRT77HD/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**People (Mansi hunters, escaped prisoners, a military or security team) forced the group from the tent and…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DP245Q70/people-mansi-hunters-escaped-prisoners-a-military-or) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 2 against Disputed [**Wind over the ridge produced infrasound that induced panic, and the group fled.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DNJG492D/wind-over-the-ridge-produced-infrasound-that-induced-panic) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [Show 1 more answer] ## History 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov puts forward: people (Mansi hunters, escaped prisoners, a military or security team) forced the group from the tent and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of) 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: the 1959 searchers recorded no avalanche debris, and the tent's ski poles and entrance were standing.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: A small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,… 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: wind does not produce rib and skull fractures of the kind found.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: A sudden violent katabatic wind made the tent untenable and drove the group to the forest for shelter; cold… 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: investigators found only the group's footprints, no struggle, and nothing taken; the Mansi were questioned…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: People (Mansi hunters, escaped prisoners, a military or security team) forced the group from the tent and… 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: beta contamination on some clothing from the ravine bodies has not been explained.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)For: People (Mansi hunters, escaped prisoners, a military or security team) forced the group from the tent and… 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: no test on that date and place has been documented; the bodies show no burns or blast injuries.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: A nearby weapons test (rocket, parachute mines) injured or terrified the group and was then covered up. 1. 2021[Gaume & Puzrin: no measurement or model of infrasound at the site has been published, and the injuries are unexplained by…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D9BW3H96/mechanisms-of-slab-avalanche-release-and-impact-in-the)Against: Wind over the ridge produced infrasound that induced panic, and the group fled. 1. 2022[Puzrin & Gaume: drone survey found the slope above the tent site steeper than 30 degrees; two fresh slab avalanches were…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D9KP7M29/post-publication-careers-follow-up-expeditions-reveal)For: A small slab avalanche, released from the wind-loaded slope above the cut the group made to level the tent,… 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors puts forward: a sudden violent katabatic wind made the tent untenable and drove the group to the forest for shelter; cold…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79DATR4CMD/dyatlov-pass-incident) 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors puts forward: a nearby weapons test (rocket, parachute mines) injured or terrified the group and was then covered up.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79DATR4CMD/dyatlov-pass-incident) 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: the 1978 Anaris case in Sweden shows a party of experienced skiers killed by sudden wind in similar terrain.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79DATR4CMD/dyatlov-pass-incident)For: A sudden violent katabatic wind made the tent untenable and drove the group to the forest for shelter; cold… 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors: glowing spheres were reported in the region in February 1959, and Ivanov later said he was told not to pursue…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79DATR4CMD/dyatlov-pass-incident)For: A nearby weapons test (rocket, parachute mines) injured or terrified the group and was then covered up. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJCY4S3V/what-made-nine-experienced-ski-tourers-cut-their-way-out-of%23add-source) Where it fits Dyatlov Pass incident **What made nine experienced ski-tourers cut their way out of the tent and leave it, underdressed, in the dark?** Key question · you're here [Why was beta contamination found on some of the clothing?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJWJ24G5/why-was-beta-contamination-found-on-some-of-the-clothing)Most likely · two members (Krivonishenko and Kolevatov) had worked at or near nuclear facilities and their clothing carried… [ Ask a question under this one ]