Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar

In February 1959, nine students from the Sverdlovsk's Ural Polytechnic Institute set out to earn their Grade III hiking papers during their school break.  They head into Russia's Ural Mountains but only one returns.  When the other eight are found, there is so many mysterious elements that rescuers and officials are baffled.   Everyone was found away from the tent with no shoes, some had unexplained injures and they were not all in the same place, some had shredded clothes, some had radiation in their clothing.  Then the government stepped in when it came to their funerals and put restrictions upon how the families could bury their loved one.  Decades later, still no answers but plenty of theories. 

The author took on the challenge of trying to find answers to this unsolved mystery.  With new technologies and scientific discoveries,  access to the hiker's diaries and photographs not available before, access to government records previously unattainable by government restrictions, and countless interviews including the previously elusive survivor the author retraces the group's steps and paints a picture of deep friendship based on common interests that ended in a horrible tragedy.

This was a really interesting book.  The author did a great job in weaving together elements that before were not available to be put together and is able to finally tell the story of what happened to these hikers.  It gives an interesting look into late 1950's Russia as people are experiencing a bit of freedom before communism takes over.  It is well told, they mystery keeps the pages turning and the pace moves along well as the author gives a real and emotional picture into the hiker's and their personalities and their last weeks of life.  If you think you can guess what happened you are probably wrong.  Recommended if you like true life hiking/mountaineering stories or unsolved mystery stories. 

I gave it a 9/10