By Tim Binnall
A group of Russian researchers have put forward a new theory for what could have caused the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident: a nitric acid fog created by a clandestine rocket test. The intriguing hypothesis was reportedly introduced at a press conference held last month on the 64th anniversary of the start of the ill-fated 1959 hike that ultimately saw nine hikers die under bizarre and mysterious circumstances in the Ural Mountains. At the event, independent experts called into question the findings of Russian officials and scientists, who argue that the tragedy was caused by an avalanche, and, offered a far more sinister explanation for the curious case.
One of the speakers at the press conference was Vladislav Karelin, who participated in the 1959 search for the lost hikers and has researched the incident ever since. He indicated that visible stones protruding from the snow in the area and argued that this upends a key aspect of the avalanche theory. However, the more compelling aspect of his testimony was that he and his team witnessed a fireball soaring through the sky. "In addition to us, eyewitnesses observed such objects in the area," Karelin recalled, "the UFO constantly changed its direction of movement." As for what the unidentified flying object might have been, one of Karelin's colleagues had a rather compelling answer.
Pointing to declassified documents regarding Russian missile tests from the 1950s and 60s, researcher Vadim Skibinsky posited that they were able to determine that "from January to February 1959, six missiles were launched in the USSR from a point near the village of Polyarny," which is approximately 900 miles from the site of the Dyatlov Pass incident. Skibinsky postulated that one of these launches was of an R-12 rocket that malfunctioned in flight and inadvertently dispersed 10 to 15 tons of nitric acid atop the hikers. He went on to suggest that the substance effectively became a poisonous fog that "penetrated the tarpaulin of the tent, which caused an inadequate reaction and the death of all nine tourists."
In presenting their theory, the researchers also noted a number peculiar aspects surrounding the contemporaneous investigation of the case, beginning with what was an inordinate amount of military interest in the incident. Additionally, they pointed out that all of the officials tasked with investigating the case were subsequently "sent for a radiological examination." While they ultimately concluded that the deadly rocket mishap was covered up by the 'powers that be' in Russia, Skibinsky was less accusatory and instead stressed that postulated that "you need to understand the conditions in which people worked" at the time and how keeping the lid on the country's defense research was likely seen as critical.
As to whether their theory can ever be proven, researcher Oleg Arkhipov expressed confidence that "documentary evidence of the rocket explosion exists," though Skibinsky mused that "apparently, everything connected with the death of the Dyatlov group is still too early to declassify" since there may still be participants in the test program who are still alive and authorities may not wish to hold them accountable. Although the group did not bring a proverbial smoking gun to the press conference, they did prove that the mystery surrounding the Dyatlov Pass still has life after recent scientific research had seemingly solved the case.