# What caused the rib and skull fractures in Dubinina, Zolotaryov and Thibeaux-Brignolles? · Dyatlov Pass incident > Four answers have been proposed. A dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base. leads, with evidence… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina 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 caused the rib and skull fractures in Dubinina, Zolotaryov and Thibeaux-Brignolles? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: a dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. A dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters The three injury cases are the hardest physical evidence and the point on which the natural explanations have always been weakest. Vozrozhdenny compared the force to a car crash and found no matching external wounds⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of). ## Answers 4 [**A dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DR0M2NT7/a-dense-snow-slab-struck-them-while-they-lay-on-packed-skis) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DSZ45JC6/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**They fell into the ravine, or snow collapsed onto them in the den, after reaching the forest.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DRR25MZ1/they-fell-into-the-ravine-or-snow-collapsed-onto-them-in-the) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**They were struck by people or by a blast.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/answers/ANS0D79DSFG3SC9/they-were-struck-by-people-or-by-a-blast) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov puts forward: they fell into the ravine, or snow collapsed onto them in the den, after reaching the forest.](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 injuries lack the external wounds expected from rockfall or a tool.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)For: A dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base. 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: the ravine is shallow and snow-filled; the 1959 investigators did not regard a fall as sufficient for the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: They fell into the ravine, or snow collapsed onto them in the den, after reaching the forest. 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: the four were found in the ravine under about four metres of snow, 75 m from the cedar.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)For: They fell into the ravine, or snow collapsed onto them in the den, after reaching the forest. 1. 1959[Prosecutor's Office of Sverdlovsk Oblast (Ivanov: no external wounds matching blows were found; the pattern is of broad compression.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D942388C/criminal-case-on-the-death-of-the-tourists-in-the-area-of)Against: They were struck by people or by a blast. 1. 2021[Gaume & Puzrin puts forward: a dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D9BW3H96/mechanisms-of-slab-avalanche-release-and-impact-in-the) 1. 2021[Gaume & Puzrin: simulations using automotive cadaver data reproduce rib and skull fractures without external wounds for a…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79D9BW3H96/mechanisms-of-slab-avalanche-release-and-impact-in-the)For: A dense snow slab struck them while they lay on packed skis and gear, which acted as a rigid base. 1. 2026[Wikipedia contributors puts forward: they were struck by people or by a blast.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D79DATR4CMD/dyatlov-pass-incident) 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/dyatlov-pass/questions/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina%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/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina%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/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina%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/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina%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/QST0D79DJMR2EHJ/what-caused-the-rib-and-skull-fractures-in-dubinina%23add-source) Where it fits Dyatlov Pass incident **What caused the rib and skull fractures in Dubinina, Zolotaryov and Thibeaux-Brignolles?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]