"Five Unsolved Nightmares of the Russian Mountains: From Dyatlov to Khamar-Daban"

But Soviet and Russian tourism holds other dark mountain secrets. URA.RU has collected five unsolved tragedies.

Nightmare on Khamar-Daban

August 1993, Khamar-Daban Pass (Buryatia). Seven tourists led by experienced 41-year-old Lyudmila Korovina faced unimaginable horror. Suddenly, bad weather hit: pouring rain turned to wet snow, sleeping bags got soaked through, wind tore down the tent. The leader made the only right decision — turn back.

On the descent, Alexander Krysin started bleeding from his ears — he could barely stand. The group split: Korovina stayed with the sick man along with several others, the rest continued down. Suddenly, the leader called everyone back. 17-year-old Valya Utochenko arrived first and saw the nightmare: Krysin dead, student Vika Zalesova in hysterics tearing her hair out. Korovina ordered to take the girl away, but Vika lunged and bit Valya's hand.

Further down awaited new horror: the rest of the comrades had gone mad. Some were banging their heads on rocks, others frozen in strange stupor. Valentina alone couldn't help. She spent the night in the tent, and in the morning found everyone dead. Only she managed to descend the mountain.

Bodies found after three weeks. Three in single undersuits, two barefoot. No one covered with sleeping bags. Cause of death: hypothermia, exhaustion, protein dystrophy — as if starved for months. Rescuer Yuri Golius suggested: Korovina practiced harsh "survival school" with minimal food. Found one empty can of stew for the whole group.

"Second Dyatlov" on Chivruay

January 1973, Chivruay Pass, Kola (Murmansk Oblast). Ten skiers — nine students from Kuibyshev Aviation Institute and one girl — led by experienced Mikhail Kuznetsov. The next group found a hand sticking out of the snow. All perished.

What happened: Heavy daytime march, at night — assault on the pass. Failed to ascend, split up: part waited below with gear, scouts looked for descent. Found the path, but those sent back for the others froze en route. The waiting ones without skis didn't go for help. On top, laid out tent directly on snow instead of pitching it — and died of cold.

Experienced tourists in shock: why climb the pass at night? Why didn't the tent save them? Local Saami blame the mountain spirit Kuive — its apparition causes "meryachenie" (hysteria with hallucinations). The group passed right by the rock with the spirit's image.

The case was classified, archives vanished. In 2019, a relative of the deceased who investigated himself was killed. Documents from the 1920s about "meryachenie" on the same plateau disappeared.

Ski Marker in the Sayans

March 1971, Eastern Sayans (Southern Siberia). Nine experienced Belarusian skiers led by Mikhail Korenev. Failed to reach the point on April 10. From the air, found tent near Pikhovyi Pass and a ski stuck in snow as a marker.

Digging in May: eight bodies at once, leader — a month later. Korenev's diary reconstructed events: at night on the pass, one had stomach pains. Waited three days in blizzard, scouts saw snow cornices. When it eased, Mikhail suggested retreat — majority insisted on assault.

While he packed camp, avalanche buried comrades. Korenev dug for days alone, stuck ski-marker to return. After going hundreds of meters away, perished under second avalanche.

Death of Women Climbers on Pamir

1974, Lenin Peak (Pamir, Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan). Master of Sports Elvira Shataeva led the first all-women group to the seven-thousander. Reached summit August 5, reported to base. Evening hurricane — overnighted on slope.

August 6: participant ill (vomiting for a day), base demands descent. On 7th, hurricane scattered tents: two died immediately, third from illness. Survivors without gear held on, but rescuers couldn't break through the storm.

Last radio: "Two of us left. No strength anymore. In 15–20 minutes, we won't be alive." Shataeva's group perished completely.

Journalist Anatoly Ferapontov doubted: hurricane wouldn't knock kettle off rock, tear zipped tent — only a person in hysteria. What mysterious illness? Why first victim?

Dyatlov Pass — the century's main mystery

Night of February 2, 1959, Northern Urals. Nine UrFU students led by Igor Dyatlov headed to Mount Holatchahl ("Dead Man's Mountain"). Failed to reach Vizhay. Search: tent slashed from inside with snow, bodies 1.5 km away — semi-naked, with broken rib cages. Girl without tongue and part of skull.

Official cause: elemental forces. But popular theories multiply — UFOs, special services, Mansi. In 2019, commission blames "slab avalanche": students damaged slab while pitching tent. But 67 years later, mystery unsolved — debates from crime to mysticism continue.