Aleksander Kochetkov "The Dyatlov Pass. The Hike of the Doomed through the Forbidden Areas. Book 1. The conclusions of Kochetkov"

The Dyatlov Pass. The Hike ofВ the Doomed through the Forbidden Areas. Book 1. The conclusions of Kochetkov
Aleksander Kochetkov

The famous researcher Aleksander Kochetkov for the first time publishes his conclusions regarding the events associated with the group of Igor Dyatlov.

The Dyatlov Pass. The Hike ofВ the Doomed through the Forbidden Areas

Book 1. The conclusions of Kochetkov

Aleksander Kochetkov

© Aleksander Kochetkov, 2022

ISBNВ 978-5-0056-4255-4 (С‚. 1)

ISBNВ 978-5-0056-4256-1

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Foreword

В«The most important thing inВ research is not the amount ofВ the information you have, but the skill how you useВ it.В»

After careful studying the criminal case files, I have made a disappointing conclusion regarding the investigation findings. They proved to be not only erroneous, but deliberately falsified. But this was not the main thing in this tragedy, but the fact that the researchers of the past, as if not noticing the obvious mistakes of the investigation, for many decades not only used the conclusions of the investigation, but in some cases, raised them to the rank of axioms. And, as you know, the thinking people profit by the other people’s mistakes, and do not use them in their reasoning’s. That was why so many versions of the tragedy appeared and none of them corresponded to reality. The thing is that it’s impossible to build a plausible version of the events on the erroneous conclusions, however hard you may try. Therefore, unlike the others, I have completely rejected the investigation conclusions and, comparing the available facts, drawn my own conclusions, which, in my opinion, are more consistent with reality than the previous ones.

Chapter 1. Who cut aВ ski pole, and whatВ for?

As is known from the criminal case files, a ski pole cut into several pieces, was found in the tent, belonging to the hikers from Igor Dyatlov’s group, which was evidenced by the participants of the search and rescue operations, Vadim Brusnitsyn and Vladimir Lebedev. This looks very odd, especially with respect to what happened to the Dyatlov group on the slope of the height «1079».

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Vladimir Aleksandrovich Lebedev, April 20,В 1959

В«InВ the tent, we found aВ ski pole, whose upper end was cut off along aВ neat end notch, and another notch was made. This suggests that someone seemed toВ stay inВ the tent much later than the others, maybe for aВ day, because no one would cut aВ pole, which might still be useful, out ofВ sheer idleness.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 315

Indeed, why cut aВ ski pole, which may still come inВ handy. Suppose the hikers needed just aВ cut pole, which, inВ their opinion, could no longer be useful for one reason or another. ToВ hunt down this complicated issue, one should review the testimony on this point ofВ another witness, which is available inВ the criminal case files.

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Vadim Dmitriyevich Brusnitsyn, May 15,В 1959

В«On top ofВ all the things, aВ ski pole cut into several pieces lay, whereon the northern ridge ofВ the tent seemed toВ be fixed. ToВ resolve upon rendering aВ ski pole unusable, taking into account that the group had no extra ones, was possible only on extraordinary occasions.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 368

Hence, Vadim Brusnitsyn also confirmed the presence ofВ aВ cut ski pole inВ the tent ofВ the hikers, found on the slope ofВ the height В«1079В», which lent this important information some credibility, since the students had no need toВ lie and mislead the investigation. Moreover, prior toВ the interrogation, they were made aware ofВ Article 95В ofВ the RSFSR Criminal Code on the responsibility for perjury.

ToВ figure out aВ secret ofВ aВ cut ski pole is not an easy task, though it is all the same achievable. And unlike others, IВ will not read tea leaves, IВ will rather use what is available inВ the criminal case files. Thus, if the testimony ofВ Vadim Brusnitsyn is taken as the basis for solving this issue, the two options for the development ofВ the events are possible:

1) the group should have had an extra pair ofВ ski poles;

2) some special events should have occurred, compelling the hikers toВ resolve upon rendering the ski pole unusable.

Let’s start with the first case scenario, which, in my opinion, is easier than the second one. And, as is usually the case in the investigations, to find an answer to a difficult question one should sift the whole lot of materials through, before the answer comes to fruition, which will correspond to reality, i.e. be based on the reliable facts, confirming its correctness.

Indeed, this matter is so intricate that it won’t be quite so easy to come to its understanding. Sometimes, the same people provide conflicting testimonies, which leads the researchers astray. And yet, if one does not jump to conclusions, but methodically compares the facts, it is possible «to separate the wheat from the chaff», as the saying runs.

The Protocol of discovery of the Dyatlov group’s camp site, February 28, 1959

В«The overnight camp represents aВ snow-leveled site with 8В pairs ofВ skis on the bottom. The tent is stretched out on the ski poles, fixed with the ropes. 9В backpacks, with various personal belongings ofВ the group members, are laid down at the bottom ofВ the tent, the quilted jackets, windbreakers are placed on their top, 9В pairs ofВ ski boots are found where the heads should have been..В»

Junior Counsellor ofВ Justice, Tempalov

Witnesses: 1) Brusnitsyn, 2) Sharavin, 3) Kurikov, the Head ofВ the detachment 4) Maslennikov.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 2

It is strange, the Dyatlov group numbers 9В people, and there are only 8В pairs ofВ skis, whereas 9В pairs ofВ ski boots are found. Herewith, one pair ofВ ski boots is found inВ the cache. Why do the hikers need 10В pairs ofВ ski boots, having 8В pairs ofВ skis? Something does not quite add up inВ the Protocol drawn up byВ Tempalov. ToВ get toВ the bottom ofВ the circumstances, one should review the testimonies ofВ the witnesses, who were present during the inspection ofВ the items inВ the tent.

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Vadim Dmitriyevich Brusnitsyn, May 15,В 1959

В«8В pairs ofВ skis were laid under the tent with their bindings facing down. Thanks toВ the dense snow cover, the tent was set up very firmly. Everything was covered with the packed snow, except for the southern ridge, fixed on aВ ski pole and tied toВ aВ pair ofВ skis. No ski pole was under the northern ridge.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 367

Now it becomes clear why Tempalov mentions 8В pairs ofВ skis, rather than 9В pairs. The thing was that one pair was not under the tent, but next toВ it, as reported byВ Vadim Brusnitsyn. But he says nothing ofВ the ski boots, so one should review the testimony ofВ another witness, who was present during the inspection ofВ the items.

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Yevgeniy Polikarpovich Maslennikov, March 10,В 1959

«In the Dyatlov group’s tent there were 9 backpacks, 10 pairs of skis, of which 9 pairs under the tent bottom, 8 pairs of ski boots, 3.5 pairs of felt boots (7 pcs.), several quilted jackets and other property. When the inspection of the tent was over, we dragged it to a helipad at a distance of 600—700 meters.»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 70

Actually, Yevgeniy Maslennikov reports ofВ the 8В pairs ofВ ski boots inВ the tent, rather than 9В pairs, which, inВ my opinion, is closer toВ the truth for aВ number ofВ reasons, whereof IВ will tell you, but aВ little bit later. But the story with the skis has taken an unexpected turn. And now it is not clear who should we believe and who not. It turns out that on the slope ofВ the height В«1079В» there were 10В pairs ofВ skis, rather than 9В pairs. But one should not jump toВ conclusions, for, as aВ rule, this can mislead even an experienced researcher, without saying ofВ those, who take only initial timid steps inВ this direction. So, please, arm yourselves with patience and hold onto yourВ hat.

Indeed, the events have taken an unexpected turn, and it proves that on the slope ofВ the height В«1079В», there were 10В pairs ofВ skis instead ofВ 9В pairs. This seems toВ be fantastic, despite the fact that the hikers did have an extra pair ofВ skis, which was left inВ the cache, as you know. And, nevertheless, Vassiliy Tempalov agreed with the opinion ofВ Yevgeniy Maslennikov, which is supported byВ the information, available inВ the criminal case files.

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Vassiliy Ivanovich Tempalov, April 18,В 1959

«An ice-axe and an extra pair of skis were found near the tent. An unlit Chinese flashlight lay on the tent. 9 backpacks, 9 pairs of skis, all of them lying under the tent bottom, 8 pairs of ski boots, 3.5 pairs of felt boots, quilted jackets, and a lot of rusks, a half-bag of sugar, a large amount of concentrated food, porridges, soups, etc., cocoa, axes, a saw, cameras, the students’ diaries, documents and money were found in the tent.»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 310

According to the Protocol of Tempalov’s interrogation, 10 pairs of skis were found on the slope of the height «1079», i.e. 9 pairs under the tent and 1 pair at the entrance. Moreover, Vassiliy Ivanovich said that 8 pairs of ski boots were in the tent, not 9 of them, as he had previously stated. I wonder what made Tempalov change his mind in respect to the discovered skis and boots? After all, it was not for nothing that he suddenly supported the opinion of Maslennikov, thereby admitting his own mistake.

The Protocol ofВ discovery ofВ the Dyatlov group camp site, February 28,В 1959

«All found items were transferred for the inventory and delivery to… the base of the Head of the search and rescue detachment, Maslennikov Yevgeniy Polikarpovich, wherefore this Protocol was drawn up. Junior Counsellor of Justice, Tempalov.»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 2

What aВ striking picture! Did Tempalov, Brusnitsyn and Lebedev really make aВ mistake inВ counting? And Yevgeniy Maslennikov, who the items were handed over toВ В«for the inventory and deliveryВ», after their inspection, found that the inventory did not correspond toВ reality. But how could this have happened? The three persons could not make aВ mistake just like that. Something is wrong here. Undoubtedly, an explanation for this strange event should be found somewhere inВ the criminal case files.

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Aleksei Alekseyevich Chernyshov, March 11,В 1959

В«The tent was set properly. The snow was trampled and aВ flat site was prepared, the skis were lying on the snow with their sliding surface up, the tent bottom was already put on them. The quilted jackets were laid at the bottom inВ the tent itself (away from the slope), the empty backpacks were laid out inВ the tent. On the same side ofВ the tent (towards the slope), the personal things ofВ each hiker lay. InВ the right corner, near the entrance, there was some food: cans ofВ condensed milk, concentrated food, etc., 8В pairs ofВ ski boots and 7В felt boots were lying along the length ofВ the tent, on the side ofВ the slope.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheets 89В andВ 90

Hence, the Deputy Head ofВ the united search and rescue detachments, Captain Chernyshov, on the one hand, confirms the fact that there were really 8В pairs ofВ ski boots inВ the tent, but on the other hand, he does not say aВ word ofВ the number ofВ skis. And the situation with the actual number ofВ skis starts toВ look hopeless, remaining one more contradictory piece ofВ information, which is, most likely, toВ remain unexplained.

The Protocol of interrogation of the witness Georgiy Vladimirovich Atmanaki, April 7—8, 1959

«There was no sense in continuing the further inspection of the items, and so, they put everything back in its place until the investigator’s arrival, having first raised the tent and pulled out the three pairs of skis, since the dog handlers were walking on foot, and the rest of the skis were used by us to mark the places where the bodies of the dead were found.»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 215

Here is an answer why those, who were sorting out the items inВ the tent, were mistaken with the actual number ofВ skis. The thing was that at the time ofВ drawing up the Protocol byВ Vassiliy Tempalov, the searchers took several pairs ofВ skis for their needs. AВ fair question arises: В«Why did they not share this important information with the Head ofВ the united search and rescue detachments, Yevgeniy Maslennikov, and he, inВ turn, with Vassiliy Tempalov?В»

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Yevgeniy Polikarpovich Maslennikov, March 10,В 1959

В«Brusnitsyn was the one who was mostly engaged with the tent, and he would tell ofВ the location ofВ the items inВ it better than me. Considering that aВ prosecutor, Comrade Tempalov, and aВ sufficient number ofВ people were near the tent, IВ went down toВ the search and rescue detachment, because it was necessary toВ activate the search for the people.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 70

That was why Tempalov changed his mind concerning the number ofВ skis, found on the slope ofВ the height В«1079В». But, as is often the case with the investigations, after answering one question, there arises another, no less important one: В«Where did the extra pair ofВ skis, which had not been there at the beginning ofВ the hike, come from?В»

The Protocol of inspection of the items, found at the scene, March 5—7, 1959

В«The clothes, found on the body ofВ Igor Dyatlov, were listed inВ the autopsy report: aВ fur sleeveless jacket, trimmed with blue satin. Yura Yudin said that that sleeveless jacket belonged toВ him and he handed it over toВ Sasha Kolevatov on January 28, 1959В».

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 13

It turns out that Yura Yudin gave Sasha Kolevatov not only В«aВ fur sleeveless jacket, trimmed with blue satinВ», but also the skis and ski poles. And this event took place inВ the 2

Severnyi village on January 28, 1959. But how then did Yura Yudin get toВ the 41

Kvartal, having lost not only his fur jacket, but also the means of transportation across the terrain, covered with deep snow? And why did the group leader let the sick comrade go alone, without being accompanied? I will provide the answers to these fair questions in the next chapter of my work, dedicated to Igor Dyatlov’s group.

Chapter 2. What Yura Yudin was silent about

Previously, it was assumed that the sick Yura Yudin left the hikers on January 28, 1959, which corresponded toВ reality. But the question arises, how did he get from the village ofВ geologists toВ the village ofВ lumberjacks? And if one cannot give the right answer toВ this question, one can go astray, already at the start ofВ the research, and this, inВ turn, will lead toВ aВ sad ending, rather than an understanding ofВ what, inВ reality, happened toВ the hikers on that unfortunate day, when they were on the slope ofВ the height В«1079В».

The Protocol ofВ interrogation ofВ the witness Yuriy Yefimovich Yudin, April 15,В 1959

В«My leg ached, IВ could not participate inВ the hike, so on January 28, 1959, from the 2

Severnyi village, IВ returned back toВ the city ofВ Ivdel, and the other 9В people went on skis and with all the equipment along the route.В»

AВ criminal case file, sheetВ 294