Just read this National Geographic article; thought it was interesting and wanted to post for any like-minded souls.
I especially took note of a couple of statements towards the end --
1.) That many people have simply concluded that the hikers had been foolish or reckless, yet they -- indeed any mountaineering experts -- could not have foreseen the Perfect Storm of Circumstances that led to the catastrophe; and
2.) One of the study's authors who said, "People don’t want it to be an avalanche,” he says. “It’s too normal.”
Those comments struck me. Whenever I hear or read about accidents, rescues, or tragedies, I always try to remember "There but for the Grace of God go I", but too often I have the annoying knee-jerk attitude of second-guessing the victims first and learning lessons second. The second statement rings true, too. How often in threads about missing hikers, etc. do we read posts and comments full of unwarranted (and sometimes outright bizarre) speculation.... I tend to think those posters watch too much television, but the author is right: People don’t want "normal" explanations. Maybe because "normal" can get any one of us?
Anyway.... Good article.
"Has science solved one of history’s greatest adventure mysteries?"
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/s...ystery-dyatlov