New Evidence Suggests Avalanche at the Dyatlov Pass Site
In January 2021, Swiss researchers Johan Gaume, leader of the Snow and Avalanche Modeling Laboratory at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, and Alexander Puzrin from the ETH Zurich Geotechnical Institute proposed that the Dyatlov group tragedy in the Ural mountains in February 1959 could have been caused by an avalanche. Using a mathematical model, they estimated that the avalanche may have occurred 9 to 13 hours after the hikers moved snow to shield their tents from the wind. Their team conducted a three‑dimensional numerical simulation to assess the potential impact of such an avalanche on people, and the resulting damage aligned with injuries documented in the surviving materials.
The death of the travelers has sparked debate for decades. Among the suspected causes have been avalanches as well as various theories ranging from armed attack to testing new weapons or the breakup of a rocket stage. While the Swiss interpretation gained some scientific backing, it lacked direct documentary proof showing avalanches actually occurring at the death site, which had long been considered unlikely to experience avalanches.
During a transit expedition on March 29, 2021, researchers noticed an unusual dark formation on a neighboring slope. At first, they thought it might be a cloud shadow, then identified it in footage captured by a director. In January 2022, another expedition, which had witnessed an avalanche for the first time, returned to the area to verify the Swiss hypothesis and to gather the first concrete evidence. The expedition team later shared the account of how the discovery unfolded and the significance of their observations.
— Who initiated the renewed expedition?
— It began as a collaborative effort with the Swiss researchers. There was strong mutual interest. The 2021 footage prompted a decision to return for a closer look in the following year. The aim was to confirm what had been captured from afar and to analyze the site more thoroughly.
— How far is this location from the Dyatlov group’s final site?
— About three kilometers. In the grand scheme of the mountains, that distance is modest, essentially the same terrain area.
How did the fieldwork unfold?
— An assistant and a guide accompanied the lead investigator, with two snowmobiles. Over two days, they covered roughly 240 kilometers, spending a night in the field. They followed a river corridor but had to cut through forest for about 20 kilometers due to river springs. The weather remained favorable for most of the journey, but conditions worsened on the final ascent. They reached the target point with a cautious speed and a clear view, yet only approximated the coordinates from satellite imagery. The team approached the funnel created by the avalanche, stepping carefully where the snowmobiles could no longer proceed.
As a trained geologist with extensive field experience, the lead researcher offered insights into the geomorphology of the site. The terrain resembles a natural amphitheater where heavy snowfall can trigger recurring avalanches. The team witnessed a small avalanche just minutes before their arrival and managed to document its path. The local ground dynamics apparently allow snow to shed rapidly from the funnel and settle densely in certain zones, creating a complex, minimally stable accumulation pattern.
— How did the team determine that an avalanche occurred in front of them within twenty minutes?
— They spent a significant amount of time observing the area, during which the snowpack gradually filled the funnel. This rapid filling indicated an active avalanche process in the immediate vicinity.
— Were any measurements taken on site, including snow depth?
— The team carried advanced gear, including unmanned aerial vehicles and cameras, but weather limited their measurements. Snow depths reached two meters at the slope’s crest, about a meter in some spots, and over four meters in others. At the funnel’s base, depths dropped to roughly 40 centimeters, with fractured rocks visible beneath. A mathematical model of the funnel was planned using drone data, but the weather prevented full deployment.
— Is the slope near the site clearly higher than the location where the Dyatlov group passed away?
— Yes, the slope is higher. Yet the core aim was to demonstrate that an avalanche could occur in a place like this. The odds of replicating the exact conditions at the tent site are extremely small, but the analysis shows avalanche potential in the region. The conclusion is that avalanches can and do happen in this area, challenging the long-held assumption that the site was immune to such events.
The researchers remain open about the broader implications. They emphasize that the landscape contains many similar spots where avalanches are possible. The team notes that glaciologists had early on suggested a high probability of avalanche involvement when first examining the images from 2021.