Dyatlov Pass incident

Dyatlov Pass incident

The group's tomb at the Mikhajlov Cemetery in Yekaterinburg.
Native name	Гибель тургруппы Дятлова
Date	February 2, 1959
Venue	Dyatlov Pass
Location	Kholat Syakhl, Northern Urals, Russia
Coordinates	61°45′17″N 59°27′46″E / 61.75472°N 59.46278°E / 61.75472; 59.46278Coordinates: 61°45′17″N 59°27′46″E / 61.75472°N 59.46278°E / 61.75472; 59.46278
Type	Multiple deaths
Cause	Undetermined
Participants	Ski hikers from Ural Polytechnical Institute
Outcome	Area closed for three years
Deaths	Nine dead from hypothermia and physical trauma

The Dyatlov Pass incident (Russian: Гибель тургруппы Дятлова) refers to the mysterious unsolved deaths of nine ski hikers in the northern Ural Mountains on February 2, 1959. The experienced trekking group, who were all from the Ural Polytechnical Institute, had established a camp on the slopes of Kholat Syakhl when disaster struck. During the night something made them tear their way out of their tents from the inside and flee the campsite inadequately dressed in heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures.

Soviet investigators determined that six victims died from hypothermia while others showed signs of physical trauma. One victim had a fractured skull while another had brain damage but without any sign of distress to their skull. Additionally, a female team member had her tongue missing. The investigation concluded that an "unknown compelling force" had caused the deaths. Access to the region was consequently closed to amateur hikers and expeditions for three years after the incident (the area is named Dyatlov Pass in honor of the group's leader, Igor Dyatlov).

As the chronology of events remains uncertain due to the lack of survivors, several explanations have been put forward as to the cause; they include an animal attack, hypothermia, an avalanche, infrasound-induced panic, military involvement, or a combination of explanations.

A group was formed for a ski trek across the northern Urals in Sverdlovsk Oblast. The original group, led by Igor Dyatlov, consisted of eight men and two women. Most were students or graduates of Ural Polytechnical Institute (Уральский политехнический институт, УПИ), now Ural Federal University:

The goal of the expedition was to reach Otorten (Отортен), a mountain 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of the site of the incident. This route, in February, was estimated as Category III, the most difficult. All members were experienced in long ski tours and mountain expeditions.