Mansi theory: Unlikely
The Mansi were not violent people. They were “well disposed toward Russians” after living with Russian and Soviet influences for generations. In addition to their nonviolent nature, Mansi hunters participated in the search party. But one of the main theories, that the hikers had wandered into sacred territory or into areas protected by Mansi, was disproven quickly. The Dyatlov hikers were not on sacred Mansi property. There was no known Mansi religious significance to the area at all. In fact, Mansi didn’t much care about that area at all. It was useless for hunting because it was so barren and windy. In 2019, journalist Lucy Ash of the BBC met with members of the Mansi tribe. Valery Anyamov, whose father helped search for the missing hikers, made it clear that the name Mount Otorten, long believed to mean “Don’t Go There,” actually means “Mountain with Swirling Winds.”