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  • Dead Mountain

  • The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident
  • By: Donnie Eichar
  • Narrated by: Donnie Eichar
  • Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (253 ratings)
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Dead Mountain cover art

Dead Mountain

By: Donnie Eichar
Narrated by: Donnie Eichar
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Editor reviews

Editors Select, March 2014 - Full disclosure: I've been obsessed with the story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident – the name given to the mysterious unsolved deaths of nine young experienced hikers in the Russian Ural mountains in 1959 - since I first heard the story a few years back. Filmmaker-turned-author Donnie Eichar seems to share my enthusiasm, because after years of researching the case, he emptied his savings and traveled to Russia on a mission to recreate the hikers’ journey and uncover the truth behind their deaths. Although this was a familiar story to me, I was completely absorbed by Eichar’s retelling. He weaves his own journey seamlessly in with a retelling of the hikers’ story (which he recreates through their photos and journal entries), along with a detailed breakdown of the investigation following their disappearance. And as a documentary filmmaker, Eichar makes sure he has his timelines and sources straight throughout the book. Above all, I was most impressed by how Eichar treated the Dylatlov Pass Incident as so much more than a creepy tale. He manages to bring a deep human quality to the story, along with immense reverence for the fallen hikers (tone that comes through in his careful narration). I came away from this book feeling as if I had known each one of them - and longing for some closure more than ever before. I won't spoil the outcome of his investigation, but I think it's safe to say that anyone who is interested in this story - or real-life mysteries in general - will be left with plenty to ponder. —Sam, Audible Editor

Summary

In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. Eerie aspects of the incident—unexplained violent injuries, signs that they cut open and fled the tent without proper clothing or shoes, a strange final photograph taken by one of the hikers, and elevated levels of radiation found on some of their clothes—have led to decades of speculation over what really happened. This gripping work of literary nonfiction delves into the mystery through unprecedented access to the hikers' own journals and photographs, rarely seen government records, dozens of interviews, and the author's retracing of the hikers' fateful journey in the Russian winter. A fascinating portrait of the young hikers in the Soviet era, and a skillful interweaving of the hikers narrative, the investigators' efforts, and the author's investigations, here for the first time is the real story of what happened that night on Dead Mountain.

©2013 Donnie Eichar (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Dead Mountain

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Intriguing story ruined by author's conclusions...

I was born in Russia in the 70s and lived there for 24 years and I have never heard of this story (author seems to claim it's popular one in Russia)

Nevertheless It was very intriguing and the author went to admirable lengths to cover it; done a lot of research, went to Russia twice and visited the place of the tragedy.

!!! Spoilers below !!!

However the ending of the book was most disappointing.

The author concludes that the deaths of the hikers must be caused by infrasound with tornadoes...
Seriously?!...
As a theory, fine if you must, but most convincing and simple explanation? Come on.
Is it possible? Yes, everything is possible (even Cossacks armed with infrasound guns and riding Yetis), but in no way is this a Reasonable theory/explanation.
The author himself writes that in experiment settings set Specifically to test effect of infrasound waves, firing "infrasound cannon", only 22% of test subjects reported discomfort.
Yet carries on to say that all 9 hikers (experienced, healthy and sober people) were effected, well above and beyond simple discomfort... Add to it vortex conveniently creating passing tornadoes and viola mystery solved.

There is no serious evidence of such phenomenons from large searching party. Even while visiting the place the author observed none of it.

It is ok to say that we can't know what really happened, what compelled 9 people to abandon the tent. There is no shame in that. But the author seems desperate to solve the mystery...

In the book the author distances himself from the "tinfoil hat brigade" yet ends up knocking on their door with great enthusiasm by the end of of it.

The last hour pretty much ruined the book for me. Shame really.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good - certainly worth a guess!!!

Pretty intriguing really that someone might come up with an “infra-sound” conclusion. The book is good. The story about 9 missing “experienced” hikers in the Ural mountains of Russia back in the 50’s and during the cold war is something that I knew nothing about, but the title was enough to make me want to read on. And I am glad I did, because I enjoyed the book and the theories that the author came up with. Not only that, I am pretty convinced that the conclusions are very feasible and very probable. I could not think why – well, kids basically would be the target of any covert, cold war conspiracy, despite the story told within the pages which is laced with coincidences, bad luck and the harshness of mother nature. The only thing that spoilt the story (but only a little) was the author’s self-indulgence and although it is clear that he did make some great personal sacrifices to come to a good conclusion, I see how this could lead the reader/listener to conclude the story a bit unbelievable. I happen to think that it is far more likely than they were all done away with, i.e., followed on a dangerous mission by Soviet soldiers, spies, misfits (who!!!) to be viciously battered to near death for absolutely no reason whatsoever! Anyhow, the reader/author does a nice job of delivering the story and comes up with a damned good conclusion – good for him. Good story, I would recommend it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting, if a bit short

I'd been quite interested in this whole myth, legend, whatever you want to call it, for a while now. For those that don't know, basically a group of pretty experienced and competent hikers went out climbing near Siberia and didn't return. They were found in various states of undress, all dead, having left their tent in a hurry. But why?
Well, this book aims to explain it.
The narrator is quite good, although his voice can be a bit droning and ultimately it's a short book. That said, the main revelation, the reason why we're listening to this, could fit in half an hour so the other 6 hours is basically the author's tale of his journey retracing the hikers' steps.
And it's an interesting one, well told, really taking you along on the snowy ride with him.
His theory for what happened to the group makes perfect sense to me - better than UFO's or Yetis or KGB agents in my opinion. When you put yourself in their position and listen to what he thinks happened it really does seem like he's figured it out.

I managed to listen to this whole thing in one day, so that tells you two things: 1) it's short and 2) it's compelling listening.

Recommended!

Steven A. McKay, author of "Wolf's Head".

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

complete claptrap

Awful story, too much conjecture. Too many irrelevant characters. Waste of time and money if you ask me.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

such a bad narrator

the book is interesting and all, the mystery is cool. I love unsolved things. but the narrator is HORRIBLE. he sounds so bored and like he wants to fall asleep and it affects the entire book. you stop caring because it becomes so dull. read the book physically if you're able to instead cause I dont recommend listening to it this way.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

TOTALLY UNCONVINCING! (Occam's Razor)

Very captivating true mystery, thriller story.

However:

Totally unconvincing explanation of the deaths of the nine hikers. Attributed to an obscure physical phenomenon, which the author himself says had an effect on roughly 20% of the subjects in the experiment that he selects to bring up. One single experiment (not a study) and it only supposedly affected 20%. So even if this physical phenomenon did occur that night of 1959, how did it impact all nine hikers? If the probability to be affected is 20%, the probability that all nine out of nine subjects were affected is infinitesimal. And in addition how did a psycho/physio-logical effect, like the one that this phenomenon supposedly causes, "hit" all of them in perfect sync, causing them to flee the tent, more or less naked.

Moreover, the author offers very little information in disproving much simpler explanations. For the most part, he's like "I can rule this out, take my word for it". Not so fast. According to "Occam's Razor" the simplest explanation is usually the right one. And the explanation that he offers is one of the most exotic that have been offered, to put it mildly. Please do not believe anything you read.

And just to clarify: I would absolutely love a convincing scientific explanation, rather than the cliche "bad Russians" story. Unfortunately, this one is flimsy.

Finally, the story telling takes place with alternating chapters between the hikers story and the authors story researching the event. The latter are excruciatingly boring. You just hang on in there for them to end and turn to the actual event.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent listen

Interesting and thoughtful adaption to the intensity of this mystery. Worthy of further research and study into perceived phenomenon.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

Thoroughly enjoyed this listen. Very well narrated by the writer. The first theory that makes any sense. Highly recommend

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant!

I was a bit put off by the delivery at first, but I got used to it and in the end it seemed quite appropriate for the matter in hand. I've listened to several books about the Dyatlov mystery but this is by far the best. It is thoroughly researched, well-told and debunks many of the earlier theories. The conclusion the author reaches is logical and the best most compelling yet. Very much recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • R
  • 26-03-23

Compelling narrative, good writing, well read

hugely enjoyable.. the writing is pared, crisp, precise.. creative non-fiction at its best: characters and narrative vividly drawn, and the reading is smooth, and brings out the nuance and life of the journey.

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