Ancient Aliens

So I'm watching an episode of one of my favorite shows "Ancient Aliens". Not so much because I'm convinced that Aliens have been kickin' it on Earth for millions of years as much as learning the history of so many places around our World.


This particular episode "Aliens & Evil Places" was discussing the fascinating tale of the Dyatlov Pass Accident. Nine hikers set out into the wilderness and were never seen alive again. Their bodies were found in groups a good distance from their camp, all in little more than underwear, as if they had to flee their tent in a hurry. Their tent was ripped open by knife from the inside. Five of the hikers showed no signs of trauma and likely died from hypothermia — two of which were found around a temporary fire that they made while in their underwear. The other four hikers died of internal injuries but showed no external wounds. One had a fractured skull, and two had fractured ribs as if they had been crippled by extreme pressure.

Here are some more facts of the case (from the Wikipedia article):

»Six of the group members died of hypothermia and three of fatal injuries.

» There were no indications of other people nearby apart from the nine travellers on Kholat Syakhl, nor anyone in the surrounding areas.

» The tent had been ripped from within.

» The victims had died 6 to 8 hours after their last meal.

» Traces from the camp showed that all group members (including those who were found injured) left the camp of their own accord, by foot. This implies that those with injuries were injured after they left the camp.

» The fatal injuries of the three bodies could not have been caused by another human being.

»The only footprints found in the snow were those of the hikers, so it couldn’t have been caused by any sort of land animal, human or otherwise.

»There were no traces of an avalanche.

Some members of the search party reported that the corpses’ skin that had turned orange, the skin seemed prematurely aged and their hair had turned gray. They also reported that the corpses gave off high levels of radiation.

So... what made these experienced hikers run out of the tent in their draws? And what caused the radiation not to mention the internal injuries that left no marks on their skin?

I'd love to hear your ideas.