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Dead Mountain

the Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident
Nov 11, 2018AnneCarolineDrake rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Why? The author answers why college students would find mountain hiking in February a fun adventure in 1959-era Russia. Life was grim, and the beach wasn't an option. It was as close to the sensation of freedom as they'd get in their lifetimes. It was haunting and sobering to discover that the students were so consumed with their grand adventure that they didn't anticipate the danger they'd likely encounter. A forester tried to warn them, but they pressed on. Spoiler alert: Maslennikov's assessment was somewhat accurate. I stopped reading a few pages later and skipped to the end of the book. The final experiences of the hikers are akin to reports from people who survive near-miss tornadoes. It's terrifying, and the urge to escape is powerful yet deadly. It is highly doubtful that Russian hikers in 1959 would be aware of this phenomenon. I thought the book was depressing.