The 9 hikers who died on a Russian mountains in the 50', that Simmons refers to is the Dyatlov Pass Incident and occurred in 1959.
9 students from Ural Polytechnic Institute in Russia, lead by a teacher, were on an expedition through the mountains, despite their experience and being well equipped, the bodies of all 9 students were found on the side of Kholat Syakhl Mountain -"Dead Mountain", or "Silent Peak". The teacher, Yuri Yefimovich, survived the tragedy due to an inflamed sciatic nerve, which forced him to return home. He never forgave himself for not being with his students, believing he could have saved them. The bodies of the students were discovered over several months, hundreds of feet apart, wearing only their underwear. Most had unexplained injury or were mutilated, some by their own hand. Evidence found showed that the students slashed their tents from the inside, and all walked out into the mountains wearing only socks, or a single boot. The rest of their clothes were found in the tent. 2 bodies were found with the remains of a fire. 3 others were found in positions suggesting they had left the fire and tried to return to their shelter. The rest were found down a ravine, all injured and/or mutilated.
A mythical sound, random insanity, KGB assassination, and the Yeti have been blamed for the inexplicable incident. The most recent theory (as of 2023) is that a physically impossible avalanche killed the hikers, but didn't touch their campsite and disappeared without trace.
9 students from Ural Polytechnic Institute in Russia, lead by a teacher, were on an expedition through the mountains, despite their experience and being well equipped, the bodies of all 9 students were found on the side of Kholat Syakhl Mountain -"Dead Mountain", or "Silent Peak". The teacher, Yuri Yefimovich, survived the tragedy due to an inflamed sciatic nerve, which forced him to return home. He never forgave himself for not being with his students, believing he could have saved them. The bodies of the students were discovered over several months, hundreds of feet apart, wearing only their underwear. Most had unexplained injury or were mutilated, some by their own hand. Evidence found showed that the students slashed their tents from the inside, and all walked out into the mountains wearing only socks, or a single boot. The rest of their clothes were found in the tent. 2 bodies were found with the remains of a fire. 3 others were found in positions suggesting they had left the fire and tried to return to their shelter. The rest were found down a ravine, all injured and/or mutilated.
A mythical sound, random insanity, KGB assassination, and the Yeti have been blamed for the inexplicable incident. The most recent theory (as of 2023) is that a physically impossible avalanche killed the hikers, but didn't touch their campsite and disappeared without trace.