Podcasts > Morbid > Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

By Morbid Network | Wondery

Venture into the chilling world of unsolved mysteries with Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart in the third episode of their gripping podcast, 'Morbid'. This particular episode pulls you into the timeless enigma of the Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine experienced Russian explorers met implausible tragedy. Our charismatic hosts weave an atmospheric narrative of the chilling event, unravelling the multi-layered complexities of deviated itinerary, unsettling autopsy reports, and hasty escape attempts that make the incident macabrely fascinating.

Beyond the investigation, versatile hosts Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart build a palpable connection with their audience, inviting them to contribute topics and continue the discourse on social media. They affirm their commitment to crafting a deeply engaging and interactive true crime podcast that resonates with their listeners, taking the narrative from mere recitation to an immersive mystery-solving experience for their followers, ensuring 'Morbid' is more than just a podcast; it's a community of curious minds unfolding the world's most eerie enigma.

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Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

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Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

1-Page Summary

Dissecting the Dyatlov Pass Incident: A Comprehensive Overview

An Unsettling Journey: Describing the Dyatlov Pass Incident

In the third episode of "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast," hosts Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart recount the unsettling journey of nine hikers led by Igor Dyatlov into the Ural Mountains in 1959. Their expedition was a formidable 350-kilometer ski trip intended to traverse the wilderness and culminate at the ominously named Mount Ortornton. However, the hikers' experiences soon took a turn for the eerie.

The Chilled Investigation: Delving Deeper into the Mystery

Following the loss of contact with the group and an ill hiker named Yuri left behind, an investigation about a month later revealed a chilling mystery. Ashleigh and Alaina convey the investigators' findings - a deserted campsite, torn tents from the inside, scattered footprints, and several other perplexing details.

Puzzling Pieces: Examining Specific Findings

Puzzling findings during the investigation added to the mystery. These included peculiar injuries, a grey foam emerging from a victim's mouth, burned victims, and one hiker found clutching a birch branch. A camera discovered on one of the victims contained photos that deepened the enigma surrounding the series of events.

Intriguing Conjectures: Sifting Through Theories and Hypotherapies

The Man-Made Mystery: Theories Concerning Human Action & Governmental Involvement

Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart engage in extensive discussion over various theories about the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Among these are hypotheses surrounding governmental or military involvement, speculative cover-ups by the Soviet Government, and the potential trespassing of a classified military testing area by the victims.

The Otherworldly Propositions: Considering Paranormal & Alien Theories

Venturing into otherworldly possibilities, theories of potential alien intervention and secret government experiments find backing from eyewitness accounts and unusual circumstances surrounding the incident. Another suggestion rooted in the supernatural is the possible yeti involvement, adding a fascinating element to the ongoing discussions.

The Tossed Possibilities: Reflecting on Rejected Theories

Several theories were considered but quickly dismissed. These involve the hikers infringing on sacred local tribe territories and an avalanche situation potentially leading to the disaster. Similarly, a theory of ‘paradoxical undressing,’ seen in cases of severe hypothermia, was rejected due to insufficient evidence.

Building Bridges: Fostering Audience Engagement and Podcast Promotion

Lending an Ear: Emphasizing Listener Interaction and Accommodating Requests

Ashleigh Kelly, Alaina Urquhart, and a different Ashleigh Kelly express appreciation of their engaged audience. They proclaim their eagerness to explore unique crime instances suggested by listeners and even announce a focus on Joel Rifkin for their next episode as requested by listener Tata Sone.

The Echo Chamber: Encouraging Feedback & Ratings

Hosts urge listeners to leave ratings on iTunes, participate in critiques, and provide suggestions. They see this interaction as a way to improve the quality and relevance of their content, iterating the importance of the audience’s opinions and feedback.

Membership Perks: Exploring Exclusive Offers for Subscribers & Effective Promotion Techniques

Ashleigh and Alaina hint at benefits for subscribers by inviting Prime members for an ad-free, early listening experience on Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. They also encourage listeners to partake in a survey as part of a direct feedback effort, linking them even closer to their platform, Wondery.com.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The Dyatlov Pass Incident occurred in 1959 when a group of hikers mysteriously died in the Ural Mountains. The hikers' tent was found ripped from the inside, and they fled into the freezing wilderness underdressed. Some victims had unexplained injuries, and one had a strange substance in their mouth. The incident remains unsolved, leading to various theories including paranormal, governmental involvement, and natural causes.
  • The Dyatlov Pass Incident is a real-life mystery where nine hikers died under strange circumstances in the Ural Mountains in 1959. Various theories have been proposed to explain the incident, including suggestions of governmental cover-ups, potential alien involvement, and even the idea of a yeti being responsible for the hikers' deaths. These theories stem from the unusual and unexplained aspects of the case, leading to speculation and intrigue surrounding the true cause of the tragedy.
  • The theory of hikers infringing on sacred local tribe territories suggests that the Dyatlov Pass incident may have been caused by the group entering areas considered sacred by indigenous tribes, leading to a negative supernatural or spiritual consequence. 'Paradoxical undressing' is a phenomenon observed in cases of severe hypothermia where individuals experiencing extreme cold may paradoxically remove their clothing due to a confused sensation of feeling overheated. These theories were considered but ultimately dismissed in the investigation of the Dyatlov Pass incident due to lack of substantial evidence supporting these explanations.
  • The hosts emphasized listener interaction by welcoming crime instance suggestions and focusing on requested topics like Joel Rifkin. They encouraged audience feedback, ratings, and critiques to enhance content quality. Exclusive benefits for subscribers included ad-free, early listening experiences on platforms like Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Subscribers were also invited to participate in surveys for direct feedback and closer engagement with the podcast platform, Wondery.com.

Counterarguments

  • The theory of military involvement and cover-ups, while intriguing, may lack concrete evidence and could be seen as speculative without official documentation or credible witness testimony to support it.
  • Alien and yeti involvement are highly controversial theories that often lack empirical support and may be considered fringe by the scientific community.
  • Dismissing the avalanche theory might be premature, as natural disasters can leave behind perplexing evidence, and modern research has provided plausible explanations that align with an avalanche scenario.
  • The concept of 'paradoxical undressing' is a well-documented phenomenon in hypothermia cases, and its dismissal may overlook a potential explanation for some of the hikers' behaviors.
  • While listener engagement is valuable, the focus on sensational or mysterious cases may overshadow the importance of discussing more common but equally significant true crime stories.
  • Encouraging ratings and feedback primarily on platforms like iTunes may inadvertently exclude portions of the audience who use other services or who may not be as technologically savvy.
  • Exclusive offers for subscribers, such as ad-free early listening, may create a divide in the listener community between those who can afford subscriptions and those who cannot.

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Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

Dissecting the Dyatlov Pass Incident: A Comprehensive Overview

In the third episode of "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast," hosts Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart, are joined by a guest speaker. Together, they delve into the unsettling journey of nine hikers into the Ural Mountains in 1959. This journey culminated in a notorious event they humorously call 'diet-love,' an incident that led to some truly uncanny fatalities.

Throughout the episode, they engage in a playful struggle with the Russian pronunciation, particularly noting the recurring name 'Yuri' among the group members.

An Unsettling Journey: Describing the Dyatlov Pass Incident

In the third episode of "Morbid: A True Crime Podcast," hosts Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart recount the unsettling journey of nine hikers into the Ural Mountains in 1959. Making a humorous connection, the hosts decide to refer to the incident as 'diet-love'.

Led by Igor Dyatlov, the hikers comprised of young university students and engineers, well-versed in hiking. Their expedition was a formidable 350-kilometer ski trip intended to traverse the wilderness and culminate at the ominously named Mount Ortornton.

However, their experiences soon took a turn for the eerie, with co-host Ashleigh Kelly admitting to experiencing fear during her research on the topic. A humorous note is introduced as the hosts grapple with the Russian pronunciations, particularly the recurrent name of Yuri among the hikers.

The Chilled Investigation: Delving Deeper into the Mystery

About a month after the loss of contact with the group and an ill hiker named Yuri left behind, the investigation revealed disturbing details. The hosts relay the investigators' findings - a deserted campsite, torn tents from the inside, and scattered footprints. Odd details began to emerge, such as a peculiar grey foam found emerging from a victim's mouth and perplexing burn injuries.

The details of Dubanina's injuries were particularly gruesome. She was found in multiple layers of partially burnt clothes and had suffered from severe frostbite. Additional injuries included a broken and flattened nose, missing soft tissue, and her tongue had been forcibly removed. Despite these severe external factors, she was declared to have died due to a massive heart hemorrhage.

Puzzling Pieces: Examining Specific Findings

Specific findings from the investigation include the dispersion of s ...

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Dissecting the Dyatlov Pass Incident: A Comprehensive Overview

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Dubanina, one of the hikers in the Dyatlov Pass Incident, was found with severe injuries, including frostbite and a broken nose. Despite these external injuries, her cause of death was determined to be a massive heart hemorrhage. Additionally, she was discovered with her tongue forcibly removed, adding to the mystery surrounding the circumstances of her demise.
  • The 'paradoxical undressing' phenomenon is a puzzling behavior observed in severe hypothermia cases. It involves individuals in the late stages of hypothermia feeling a sensation of overheating, leading them to remove their clothing despite being in a dangerously cold environment. This phenomenon is not fully understood but is believed to be caused by blood vessel dilation and confusion in the brain's temperature regulation due to extreme cold exposure. It is a counterintuitive response that can complicate the diagnosis and understanding of hypothermia-related incidents.
  • The disappearance of Alexander Kolovatov's diar ...

Counterarguments

  • The term 'diet-love' used to refer to the Dyatlov Pass Incident might be seen as insensitive given the tragic nature of the event and the loss of life involved.
  • The recounting of the incident may not fully acknowledge the complexity and numerous theories surrounding the Dyatlov Pass Incident, potentially oversimplifying the event.
  • The focus on the more sensational aspects of the incident, such as the mysterious injuries and the radiation tests, might overshadow more plausible explanations that involve natural phenomena or human error.
  • The dismissal of the 'paradoxical undressing' phenomenon may not consider that this behavior could coexist with other factors that led to the hikers' severe injuries.
  • The mention of a camera on hiker Zola Tarev and the disappearance of a diary and camera belonging to Alexander Kolovatov without providing context or evidence could be seen as speculative and contributing to conspiracy theories rather than ...

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Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

Intriguing Conjectures: Sifting Through Theories and Hypotherapies

Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart discuss various theories about the Dyatlov Pass Incident, speculating about potential sequences of events that led to the puzzling injuries and deaths of the hikers.

They propose hypotheses of governmental or military involvement, potential cover-ups by the Soviet government, and the possibility of trespassing on a classified military testing area.

The Man-Made Mystery: Theories Concerning Human Action & Governmental Involvement

Ashleigh Kelly and Alaina Urquhart engage in an extensive discussion over various theories about the Dyatlov Pass Incident. These theories include potential governmental or military involvement and speculative cover-ups by the Soviet Government. A new hypothesis is considered, suggesting that the Soviets might have hidden a supposed assault on the hikers by the indigenous Monzi tribe to avoid any conflict that might disrupt future oil extraction from the tribes' lands.

However, this theory is dismissed due to the significant rescuing role played by the Monzi tribe during the aftermath of the incident.

In another intriguing twist, Alaina introduces findings by the Ural State Technical University and the Dyatlov Foundation. These findings suggest that the hikers' deaths could have been an unintended consequence of a covert military operation. Urquhart hypothesizes about a covert government agenda potentially causing the unfortunate event. The theory possibly links to the testing of secret government weapons in the area. This theory is supported by the abrupt and hushed manner of the official probe.

An account from survivor Yuri Yudin, suggesting the incident was a result of the government's covert operation, adds weight to this theory. Unusual observations at the victims' funerals, including deep orange tans and colorless grey hair, further intensify the mystery. The mystery deepens further due to the high radiation levels found on Yuri Krivonenshanko's clothes.

The Otherworldly Propositions: Considering Paranormal & Alien Theories

Venturing into otherworldly possibilities, theories of potential alien intervention and secret government experiments find backing from eyewitness accounts and unusual circumstances surrounding the incident. Most squaring is Urquhart's proposition about aliens possibly playing a role, a theory supported by accounts from a rescue volunteer who claimed to have seen glowing orbs in the sky at the time of the incident.

A unique theory evolves during the discussion: that the term 'snowmen', possibly used by the hikers, could have been a coded reference to military personnel. Urquhart brings to light an intriguing U.S Government document, titled 'Regulations Covering Mountain Climbing Expeditions in Nepal Relating to Yeti'. This report con ...

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Intriguing Conjectures: Sifting Through Theories and Hypotherapies

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The Dyatlov Pass Incident is a mysterious event where nine Soviet hikers died in the Ural Mountains in 1959 under unclear circumstances. The group's bodies were found with injuries like skull damage and missing body parts, sparking various theories including animal attacks, hypothermia, and military involvement. The incident remains unsolved, with investigations suggesting factors like an avalanche and infrasound-induced panic as potential causes. The case continues to intrigue researchers and enthusiasts due to its eerie and unexplained nature.
  • Ural State Technical University (USTU) is a prominent technical university in Yekaterinburg, Russia, known for its strong ties to local industries in the Urals region. It offers a wide range of faculties, including Metallurgical, Chemical Engineering, and Civil Engineering. USTU plays a significant role in educating engineers and technical professionals, with a history dating back to its founding in 1920 as the Ural Polytechnic Institute.
  • The Dyatlov Foundation is an organization dedicated to investigating and preserving the memory of the Dyatlov Pass incident, a mysterious event where nine hikers died in the Ural Mountains in 1959. The foundation conducts research, organizes expeditions, and works to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident. It plays a significant role in keeping the story alive and exploring various theories surrounding the hikers' deaths.
  • Yuri Yudin was a survivor of the Dyatlov Pass Incident. He left the group due to illness before the tragic events unfolded. Yudin's account and insights into the group's dynamics have provided valuable information for understanding the incident. His perspective has contributed to various theories surrounding the mysterious circumstances of the hikers' deaths.
  • The Yeti, also known as the Abominable Snowman, is a legendary ape-like creature said to inhabit the Himalayan mountains. It is often described as a large, hairy, bipedal being with similarities to Bigfoot in North American folklore. The term "Yeti" originates fro ...

Counterarguments

  • The theory of governmental or military involvement lacks concrete evidence and may be influenced by Cold War-era suspicions and the tendency to attribute unexplained events to conspiracy theories.
  • The dismissal of the Monzi tribe's involvement due to their rescue efforts does not necessarily rule out the possibility of a few individuals' actions that may not reflect the tribe as a whole.
  • The link between the hikers' deaths and a covert military operation is speculative and not substantiated by direct evidence; alternative explanations could be more plausible.
  • Yuri Yudin's account, while valuable, is still a single perspective and may not provide a complete understanding of the events.
  • Unusual observations at the funerals, such as the deep orange tans and colorless grey hair, could have explanations unrelated to government actions, such as natural mummification processes or exposure to the elements.
  • High radiation levels found on clothing could be attributed to naturally occurring radioactive materials in the area or contamination from other sources unrelated to the incident.
  • Theories involving alien intervention and secret government experiments are highly speculative and lack empirical support; they may detract from more plausible explanations.
  • The interpretation of the term 'snowmen' as military personnel is conjectural and not supported by direct evidence from the hikers' writings or other sources.
  • The U.S. Government document on Yeti regulations may be unrelated to the incident and could have been created for different purposes, such as addressing popular myths or providing guidelines for unexpected encounters.
  • The yeti involvement theory is not ...

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Morbid: A True Crime Podcast | Episode 3: The Dyatlov Pass Incident

Building Bridges: Fostering Audience Engagement and Podcast Promotion

As they unravel the Dyatlov Pass Incident mystery, the hosts build a strong rapport with their audience, sharing their amazement and speculations.

Between dissecting evidence and analyzing theories, they share playful self-mockery. They respond to listener suggestions, and interact intimately with the audience, thus blending serious investigation with narrative engagement.

Lending an Ear: Emphasizing Listener Interaction and Accommodating Requests

Ashleigh Kelly, Alaina Urquhart, and a different Ashleigh Kelly express appreciation of their engaged audience.

They proclaim their eagerness to explore unique crime instances suggested by listeners.

A testament to this, they announce that they will be focusing on the case of Joel Rifkin in their next episode, as requested by listener Tata Sone.

The Echo Chamber: Encouraging Feedback & Ratings

Hosts urge listeners to become a part of their dedicated Facebook community and leave ratings on iTunes.

They view these interactions as pivotal ways to enhance the quality and relevance of their content. This clearly demonstrates the importance they place on the audience’s opinions and feedback.

Furthermore, they encourage the participation in productive critiques and suggestions. This reaffirms their commitment to continuously improving and tailoring the content based on audience feedback.

Membership Perks: Exploring Exclusive Off ...

Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary

Registered users get access to the Full Podcast Summary and Additional Materials. It’s easy and free!
Start your free trial today

Building Bridges: Fostering Audience Engagement and Podcast Promotion

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The Dyatlov Pass Incident is a mysterious event where nine Soviet hikers died in the Ural Mountains in 1959 under unclear circumstances. The group's sudden and unexplained deaths, including injuries like skull damage and missing body parts, have led to various theories but no definitive explanation. The incident remains a subject of speculation and intrigue, with investigations suggesting factors like hypothermia, physical trauma, and natural forces as potential causes. The case continues to captivate interest and inspire discussions about what truly happened to the hikers on that fateful night.
  • Joel Rifkin is an American serial killer who was convicted of murdering multiple women between 1989 and 1993. He gained notoriety for his crimes, which involved dismembering his victims. Rifkin's case is significant in the realm of true crime due to the brutality of his actions and the impact it had on the communities affected.
  • Wondery.com is a podcast network ...

Counterarguments

  • While the hosts' engagement with the audience is commendable, it could be argued that focusing too much on listener suggestions may limit the scope of the podcast to what is popular rather than what is important or educational.
  • The emphasis on audience interaction and feedback could potentially create an echo chamber, where only the views and interests of a vocal minority are represented, possibly neglecting diverse perspectives.
  • Encouraging ratings and feedback primarily on platforms like iTunes and Facebook might inadvertently exclude listeners who use other platforms or who are less inclined to engage in social media.
  • Offering perks to Prime members, such as ad-free and early listening experiences, might create a two-tiered audience, where those who cannot afford or choose not to subscribe to premium services feel like second-class listeners.
  • The use of self-deprecating hum ...

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