In February, 1959, a group of hikers, all but one college-aged, but all highly experienced hikers who were quite adequately prepared for their hike into the North Ural Mountains in Russia, perished on their journey under highly mysterious circumstances. Over the past more than 60 years following the incident, numerous theories have abounded, from the natural (avalanche) to the supernatural (aliens) to the human (government conspiracy). Not one of these theories can completely explain every detail of the circumstances surrounding their deaths. What on Earth could cause 9 intelligent, skilled, and experienced young hikers to flee the safety and warmth of their tent in dangerously frigid temperatures without even the protection of shoes?

Documentary filmmaker Donnie Eichar, having become obsessed with the mystery surrounding this case, embarked on a journey to uncover the truth, the results of which are recounted in Dead Mountain. Eichar alternates between the facts as known of February 1st and 2nd, 1959, and his own trips to Russia in search of answers. Over the years he spent researching, he combed through case files and trip logs, interviewed surviving family and acquaintances of the deceased, including the one surviving member of the hiking party who had turned back due to illness prior to the incident, and even trekked the same path into the Ural Mountains as the ill-fated crew. Eichar analyzes each various theory and explains why most of the popular theories simply don’t carry much weight or are just downright ridiculous.

His narrative is as riveting as it is perplexing, but it’s when Eichar reaches his own theory that things seem to fall into place. His theory is explosive, unique, and actually carries a startling amount of plausibility. It’s also gifted to me something new to be anxious about.

Fabulous…

This book is a labor of love from a man who took his job seriously. He tells the story of these young people in a way that honors their memory, celebrates their lives, and strictly adheres to a quest for the truth. His writing is competent and concise, and his grit and determination to solve the case are to be admired. Maybe we will never know the true and completely accurate reason for the deaths of these young people, but Eichar provides us with an absolutely compelling, though tragic and terrifying, possibility.

2025 Reading Challenge pick: #4 – Title containing “Dead” or “Death”

Published March 18, 2014 by Audible Studios. ASIN B00IO4L86Y. Runtime 6 hrs. 23 mins. Narrated by The Author.