In 1959 a group of experienced student hikers embarked on a demanding trek into remote territory in the Russian wilderness. They had made several such excursions before without incident, but eerily this trip into the forest would be their last. The incident has been the subject of books, movies, and re-examinations, but nothing conclusive has come up until recently. The murders and surrounding secrecy have given way to new light on this bizarre page in history where the lives of several young adults were mysteriously taken.

Ominous development

The Dyatlov Expedition was to last just a few days through the forests of the Ural Mountains until they reached the pass. However 3 days into the ski expedition things began to turn strange. Photos and black and white film recovered from the final resting place of the 10 man team showed curious sights. Apparently a presence within a few short days had shown up and was pacing the group. Who or what can only be speculated over, but the locals had their opinions based upon past experience.

New insight

Most people are familiar to some degree over the Dyatlov Pass mystery. There was only one survivor of the incident who turned back after 3 days hiking. When interviewed in 2013 shortly before his death the hiker, now elderly and not in good health stated two surprising things. 1) that it was not because he was sick that he turned back, but that he was terrified of something. 2) He stated that a Russian army boot dressing was recovered at the site of the ravaged tent and two corpses that police and volunteers discovered. What he was terrified of was not clear other than a sense of foreboding, Many people who have remembered having a sixth sense when they claim being watched by a Sasquatch have described being scared to the point of their hair standing up on the back of their necks.

Photographic mystery

An unclear photo of a large two legged entity in the distance was among the negatives recovered from the camera of one of the dead. A black and white movie of a distant being crouched along the shore of a river and then standing upright to gaze in the direction of the camera is part of the archived film evidence. Who or what these beings are is unclear. To the Mansi, the indigenous tribe who inhabit the area they called the deaths of the hiking group the work of the "Menk" or "Giants" words they use to describe a Yeti type creature that they believe shares the land with them. Another term used by the local Mansi is "Masters of the Forest" among other words used by the Russian people that mean "Wild Hairy Man".

The cryptic questions

The questions still remain to this day. Why did 9 people perfectly warm in their large tent cut the canvas from the inside in order to get out? Why did two of the members run 1 mile from the tent in nothing but their underwear only to die in the freezing temperatures? Why was a tree found to have branches broken 15 feet upward when no other trees showed any signs of avalanche damage as if someone was climbing in order to escape? Why were some of the men savagely beaten to death with blunt force trauma on two of them that broke ribs and caused internal organ damage? Why was the young woman, the only lady among the team, who was found with her eyes removed from the sockets? Evidence seems to indicate that all victims were chased and attacked savagely.

Faulty conclusions

Of course the authorities were going to come up with a mundane explanation that would not hint at something sinister. First, they tried to blame the Mansi, but further investigation ruled that conclusion out. They finally decided on a seemingly scientific finding saying that a miniature avalanche caused the expedition to panic and destroy their tent, run in several directions fearing a mass of snow sliding on top of them from the upper slopes and, of course, the resulting hypothermia that would have resulted. As for the blunt force injuries, the power of the avalanche, right! As for the woman's eyes being torn out, predatory activity. Now keep in mind these people were buried or partially buried in the dead of winter so predators from anywhere such as any bears would have been in hibernation, wolves and cougars perhaps, but when a dead body is buried in snow in sub zero temperatures? Not likely. But, remember about the military boot dressing? It took weeks to locate all the bodies even using dogs to sniff any scent.

More vague results

As it turns out, thanks to the unlocking of some classified files, the Russian military had investigated the site 6 days prior to the police and civilian discovery days later. The military made detailed photos, noted forensics, but left everything relatively intact so that authorities later did not realize someone else had beaten them to the murder scene! One theory was that the Russian military had detained, tortured and murdered the hiking team because they had unknowingly stumbled upon a rocket test that had lit up the skies causing some locals to speculate that UFO activity had something to do with the whole event. However, all of these theories fell by the wayside.

New findings

What two American private investigators given access to Russian government classified archives discovered was that in 1958 not only the Russian military, but the American government undertook projects to research the Yeti or Sasquatch. Strangely, by 1959 the Russian government broke off their studies, but there is no indication that the American research project ever ceased their operation. Under the official code name " Snowman Commission" the Russians began their research group, but as mentioned before, mysteriously terminated their studies in a short time. One should find this highly unusual that at a time when 9 mysterious deaths occurred during a Yeti and Sasquatch government period of fascination.

Astonishing disclosure

Recently, an admission was made by a former US Army commander who was responsible for troop maneuvers and night time operations at Fort Lewis located near Mc Chord Air Base. In his statement the Army units were made aware that there were Sasquatch in the area and that if they encountered the creatures they were not to engage them. Yet, two reconnaissance officers, surprised by their presence, were confronted by a Bigfoot creature and both emptied their ammo clips into the entity killing it. As a result, the men in black type federal agents showed up and interrogated the two soldiers after the incident was reported. The former commander preferred to remain anonymous.