A Group Of 27 Students Left To Die In The Mountains: THE 1978 ALTAI TRAGEDY | Soviet Mysteries
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- In 1978, a group of 27 Soviet students set off on their first hiking trip to the Altai mountains, yet not every one of them managed to made it back safely... What went horribly wrong during their hike?
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Make sure to check my previous video: th-cam.com/video/4-EV1Df6bOI/w-d-xo.html
Lässig, fahrlässig, grob fahrlässig.
He wasn't built different. He was irresponsible.
@@alexandermathar7780ii
It's a miracle only one person died with such an awful guy in charge
Ah so the title is misleading I take it
Not exactly. The students being “left to die” not quite the same as “the students died.” But definitely in the clickbait category.
What exactly did Norin gain out of all of this? This is one of those rare cases where I have to conclude that the guy must have been delusional and seriously thought he knew what he was doing in the face of all evidence otherwise.
Dunning-Kruger Effect hard at work
the fact he told the group the helicopter would be back but then turned around and told one person how to get somewhere cause the copter won't be back makes him sound like a fukin psycho the entire trip.
Hhhm you could make a horror movie out of this where the leader is actually a psycho.
I wonder if anybody ever considered the possibility that the leader did this on purpose. That he WANTED to get the group into trouble so he could "save them".
There are incidents of fire fighters starting fires, nurses causing a patient to code, etc just for the rush and acclaim of "saving the day". This doesn't seem all that different.
Malthusian by proxy or something, though I doubt it. It's more like he ignored the situations that arose. Didn't seem motivated to help one single person other than himself. This guy was loser city.
@@annettegenovesi munchausen syndrome by proxy and it wouldn't be that. Munchausen's by proxy is a form of abuse (most often to children but can also include elderly adults, disabled people and pets) where the caretaker makes up fake symptoms or causes real symptoms to make it look like the victim is sick. It's now called Facetious Disorder Imposed on Another. What @nyxspiritsong5557 is talking about is hero syndrome
No because he went out of his way to ignore anyone he wasn't attached to, like his sons, or people who could keep up. If he wanted to be a hero he would have been all about getting the injured girl down the mountain
Munchausen.
No.... under the ways of that time there was zero chance he would be made a hero... as leader of a group that got into trouble, he would be facing prison, whatever his role was, especially as he used an unregistered route... a major affront to any judges senses, as a representative of government bureaucracy.
the thing that comes to my mind
is that this is all very one-sidedly told... it is not impossible that there was conflict for leadership in the group, and that he was framed to be at fault for everyone... whilst not common, what this group went through is not that unusual, and deaths did sadly occur... if looked at it in another way, the person who had died was only at fault for this himself, having climbed a path without the team-leaders approval, and attempting to lead others behind him...
much of the other faults are hearsay, and the fact he did not have his own group is as likely to mean he had not got the necessary connections, as that he was actually somehow considered a bad leader... the people who joined the trip knew who was leading and seemed ok with it.
When it's a tragedy, an accident or bad luck - that's a story. This was a pure crime of negligence. My heart broke over and over for these poor hikers. I'm glad most of them survived but jeez. That man should have been locked away forever.
Worse than negligence: Norin told inexperienced hikers with no clear escape route that the helicopter would return for them and then abandoned them with little food, and poor quality, at that.
That's at least attempted manslaughter in my book.
The Soviets were built different, I cannot imagine taking someone as young as seven on a freaking 500 km hiking trip.
Well, mountain tourism is still quite popular sport for kids and teens in Russia. Those who have parents in it start around 6-7 as usual. Not such chaotic and difficult hikes of course.
In this case, it’s not a matter of being “built different”. The group leader ignored all of the rules, safety measures, conventional wisdom, and common sense, endangering everyone in his party-including his child. He was a complete jackass.
As WWII revealed…..:Russians have a great capacity for suffering’
Excellent video thanks
Nah they're built exactly like everyone else. Including being incompetent while arrogant. That is a lethal combination for anyone to have and the group leader had it in spades. Dude was nuts and unsuitable to lead a group of dust bunnies across a coffee table.
What a terrible story. Absolutely horrid that there was so little humanity shown by the leader and many of the others.
this is one of the wildest hiking stories I've ever heard, red flags all over from the beginning. it's a miracle more deaths didn't happen, they got really lucky
Thanks for yet another well-made video. Whenever I thought he couldn't possibly mismanage the situation any worse, he proved me wrong.
A traumatic and chaotic hike. Thanks for upload, great narration, research and format.
Thank you for watching!
Norin was simply arrogant and dismissive of others. I'm sure we all know of or have encountered a Norin. Keep away! And certainly don't trust them to go into the mountains with. Those that survived only had their good will intact and I guess that was enough. Good job to all of those amazing survivors.
They really did get lucky. It's a downright miracle only one died and only one was seriously injured. If circumstances had been just a little different, they could all have perished.
In situations like this, staying put and waiting for rescue might really be what saves your life in the end.
Agreed! Very lucky!
Having the leader abandon them and lie to them that rescue is coming - and leave them with insufficient, poor quality, food - makes this attempted murder in my book.
@@larrywest42 I will agree with that.
Really cool animation style.......well done, great channel
I'm liking the new visuals 👍
I've never heard such negligence and lack of responsibility during and afterward. What a tale.
My guess he is psychologically speaking a narcissist.
Probably worse a "psychopath" this trait is defined by a total lack of empathy (not by crimes. There are CEO psychopath) and is g.e.n.e.t.i.c.
Or he has what they call "an asocial personality disorder
Anyway what is surprising is that this man could have been trusted by his employer and be in charge of anything. Here is the problem!
Prison is not the answer. Lawsuit, losing his job, financial compensation of the victims.
Gotta say, Olga ftw! What a hero! She and her two other girlfriends stayed with Irena in the bitter cold, with no fire, seemingly no/little food, while the boys ignored their dying companion for their own comfort. Disgusting! She flew with Irena to the hospital, refused to leave with Norin and his sons on the bus, stayed alone as a young woman with little/no money for days in a bus terminal (I though some predatory man was going to rape her, thank goodness that didn't happen). If not for Olga's empathy and selflessness, they could of all died, save for Norin and his two sons. He seems like a man with severe personality problems (re: psychopathic, narcissistic), conversely, she seems like a wonderfully kind, thoughtful woman. Bless her!
If there is a silver lining to this I hope it’s that members of the group formed lifelong friendships. And also gained a healthy mistrust of authority.
Thank you for calling this out. She showed strength, honor, and character as well as compassion.
love the way this was filmed. the little figures ready felt like you could see them there. so very sad, should had never happened.
Agree, what a disaster, and mainly because of how preventable all the problems were! Dx
Always great to see another Achie video. Keep it up bro!
thanks for watching!
How much profanity do you think the phrase “to my not very polite question…” was veiling?
Great video mate.
that’s what I thought…
thanks for watching!
I love the illustrations with the brown characters in diverses scènes such as trekking and camping with the animated fire, it was beautiful.
Wow! So interesting. I was hoping to find more information on this story, but this video is the ONLY coverage that I can find anywhere. It is a shame more people aren’t aware of this.
New subscriber here. I like the way the people are portrayed in Your video. Looks overall like solid work to me. Thanks!
Your videos make me happy🙃 I have watched all of the mountain ones this week and they're all so amazingly paced and told in such an impactful way❤
No parents were notified prior to this trip! Was this a boarding school or college? The 14 y.o. age limit is confusing.
I was just wondering where you are getting these amazing animations of these stories? They are really well done! I appreciate having them while you're telling the story. Who is creating these animations? It's fascinating!
I've been watching many many of your videos. You have given me the only thing a old fart such myself has left. Memories!! That part of the world has to do many beautiful people and places. Of course for someone from the US such as I am I was given some of the Best people the USSR had to offer. Partly I sure because they wanted to keep a eye on me. Partly because compared to those around me I was much better off financially and was more than willing to share my good fortune. Although I did have to hire an interpreter but that was a small price to pay to see such wonderful unspoiled nature. Now I'm to old to go back but I have great memories!!
Very good video. The voice is really wonderful and keeps me focused on what was said. Enjoyed it and I am now a fan ❤
Beautifully done. Nice work, thanks!
Another excellent episode Sir, what a horrific outing!!!🙏😢🏔️❣️
The leader was a narcissist. Lying, proud, delusional, disregarding everyone but himself etc. Surprised he didn’t carry a mirror the whole time.
Great video Archie, Altai is so incredibly beautiful, but none the less were there's mountains there's always gonna be death.
They couldnt turn back if they wanted. They had no idea where they are.😮
Im very interested in more little known stories from the soviet union! Love the channel
A leader that has no clue what too do in the mountains, is waiting for disaster.
This story is definition of the word RIDICULOUS..... This group leader has people "hitchhike" to a city... then leads people into a forest on a death march, one dies in a river, continues tour, then bails in a bus..... WTF 😂
What a senseless, unwise, stupid plan. Kids, 500 km? Really! That is child abuse.
I feel bad they burned a tree, and it must have suffered for 15 hours. Shame on them. I hope the tree recovered. Humans are a -holes.
The only "Norin" these people needed was to be IGnorin' this guy's advice.
Only in Soviet Russia would a guide see a kid fall to his death and shrug it off. And only there too would the kids follow his orders to a T without complaint.
Honestly teaching people to think for themselves rather than blind obedience to superiors is more desirable in 99% of scenarios 😂
This story is UNBELIEVABLE! Norin (?) was a HORRIBLE man! It's almost like the trip was just an opportunity for him to show off to his sons (and to himself) what a BIG MAN he is! TERRIBLE!
incredible video!
Good afternoon this was a very interesting story❤
Thank you!
great content as usual
Norin sounds like a serial killer who wanted to watch inexperienced hikers suffer and die.
This is not the first story of Soviet men abandoning women and children. Disgusting.
Thank you very much for new video, Archie, oh and its from Altay, I love. You have so nice English. I understand very well. ❤️
I know I ask before, but...video about Moscow escalator incident? Because i think i saw it on your channel, but I cant find it now.
.. Anyone else feel like the leader guy is basically just Zap Brannigan from Futurama?
This content is fantastic
Keep the videos coming
Tragedy? This was a crime.
This should be a movie.
You know for an allegedly Russian man, Norin seems to not have the slightest fucking clue what the word "comrade" meant, let alone how to be a worthy or respectable one.
Super video again. Love this channel ❤
Thanks for watching!
"Of course, they never invited Norin".....
He probably went on to be a governor or something
Hey everyone stay safe. Be happy and kind.
😁👊👍💪🍻
❤hugs❤
Would you mind sharing your sources? I ask because I have found one article which, via google translate, is word perfect with several sections of this video. This can be found while searching "студент altai смерть norin". When searching for the name of the leader, this mountain, and various other parties it is again the only source given. It is an article from 2022, mentions no sources directly such as newspapers from the time (though somehow it gets newspaper cut outs which have been photographed in). The actions of the individuals in this video do not make sense and seem over dramatised. If you have the links or other materials for reference I think it would be good to include them in your description because as it stands this is dubious at best.
Yeah, something seems off.
To me the way it was explained was very hard to follow, like the were I. The wilderness proper and in great danger but also somehow in waking distance to a grocery store if some kind in various mentioned towns. It was just kinda convoluted, I had to listen to it 3times and I'm still not sure I understand even the basic logisitics...
For the algorithm 👊 ❤️
All bow to the mighty algorithm!!
Russia's utter disregard for its soldiers during the current conflict is much more understandable now.
You're gonna be shocked if you study and research WW2. The Russian federation is actually better than the Soviets. But that's not saying much, like you said, given the current conflict.
Interesting point.
In a dictatorship, the populace is considered disposable, and you don't waste resources on them that could be used instead to maintain the luxury lifestyle of the ruling class.
As Edward said, it's somewhat better today than the Soviet era.
what do you know about Russia's disregard for its soldiers???? Especially from western sources which are biased against Russia, and exaggerate everything negative from that part of the world. Or what do you know about the conflict? I bet you still believe Ukraine is winning.
@@mikesmith-po8nd that can be said about most of the countries in the world and about the USA too.
After watching this entire video, I'm still not understanding why Norin didn't have a loyal group following him...
🙄🙄
What a horrific experience! If those groups had been from the Sates, there would have been a major lawsuit
Perhaps you missed it, and it was a little bit unclear, but the careless leader of the group got 7 years in prison for his total lack of regard for his fellow comrades. This was Soviet Russia after all.
@@ingvarhallstrom2306 I did see that and I'm sure that there that's a harsh sentence Just pointing out it would have been the subject of many lawsuits here 🙁
Look up the 1986 Mount Hood disaster - it’s a horrifically similar story but Mount Hood is in Oregon
@@sherlockwatson101 on the 8Yb (8 something) channel, the best report on that .
I'll be honest. The moment the leader handed me 5 rubles and told me to find my own way to the *actual starting point* of the hike (going up a goddamn mountain, I might add) with no equipment or food, and with the very few experienced hikers already formed into a pack leaving the rest of us to figure it out on our own...I think I would've just kept the money and went home. Idiot's fee.
Very interesting indeed.
I've been 2 times in Altai this year. But I walked only tourists paths. Anyway, the mountains are really impressive
I know that your channel is about criminal cases or stories about survival in nature... But would you be interested to tell about Altai's mummy called The Princess of Ukok? Idk, I just find interesting the stories about ancient mummies😅
By the way, you female voice assistant creates great content in Russian ❤
This is the 4th or 5th Russian hiker tragedy I've watched just recently.
I cannot understand how those people just got on a train and left!
They probably had a falling out with nolin.
What I don't understand, is how such a large part of the group CHOSE to stay in the mountain and forest, even tho there was a town with a transaction nearby.
Someone died, one person was severely injured, and they chose to stay in the middle of nowhere alone and wait for Nolin?
I'd leave immediately, the first chance I'd get.
@@carlpanzram7081 I was trying to say, poorly, how could those ppl leave the others on the mountain. Who does that? I'm not familiar with Russian currency but 5 rubles doesn't sound like much money at all.
To your point, I too, am baffled by the group choosing to stay! Things were already a dumpster fire at that point. Maybe herd mentality kicked in ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@nonadeplume1145 I feel bad they burned a tree, and it must have suffered for 15 hours. Shame on them. I hope the tree recovered. Humans are a -holes.
@@HowieHoward-ti3dx true that.
So tragic and could have been so much worse with all perishing!
Another case where multiple red flags should have warned people early, but peer pressure and submissiveness to authority (and probably other common human foibles) led to disaster.
I like to think I would be stronger.
Norin (sp?) was clearly unfit to accompany the hike, much less lead it, and one can only hope he never held a position of authority after prison.
My people perish for lack of knowledge
from what I've read Norin actully was not punished. He was reprimanded, but continued his carreer. At the end, the hardest charge that could be brought against him is "criminal negligence that led to death". Hi actions were weird and inconsistent and probably at some point he might even decided to run away in hopes that he'll avoid persecution instead of helping and doing what's due. so much so of a "leader". everything went against the regulations, which were on par with best practices on time (every year hundreds of thousands such trips were conducted by schools and univercities across USSR, what you can see here is excempts that go against everything that's taught in every tourism section).
but as far as I can tell "Норин Геннадий Иванович" is sparcely ever mentioned, so likely there are no additional info.
17:57 No wonder they couldn't recover Ignatyev from the river.
Hitch hike 500 kilometers..uhh...😮
Seems like nothing good ever happens in Siberia. Gorgeous scenery though
This is the very most Worst & Awkward Hiking story I've ever known, as a Climber myself. The supposed Climbing Leader was so very Unprofessional & not reliable in times of Crisis. If it's today, shame on him forever in the whole wide world Hiking community!😂
So many red flags, what could possibly go wrong?! 🤦♀️
Children need experiences like this to build character and an appreciation of the beauty of nature.
Chief Joseph was a prime example of strong leadership.
5 love# of bread and 1.5 kg of sugar???? Wyf do we make wit this???
It is erroneous to say these were a group of climbers. In Russia it was a long tradition for students and other groups to go on camping holidays into the forest. These groups were at most led by someone who had been on a holiday to the area, not climbing or wilderness experts. Usually there were rustic cabins in such places built and maintained by previous groups and obviously this is what the group expected by bringing air mattresses and no tools to make a shelter. As students in the USSR of that era they were also overconfident in the ability of the collective thanks to a lifetime of consuming Soviet propaganda and unquestioning obedience to party members.
Very insightful. Thank you for this.
Better to have 2 or 3 trained leaders to climb mountains in a big group. I feel sad for those who perish in the worlds mountains.😢
This story is hard to imagine. The so called leader is lucky he didn’t rot to death in prison.
That guy was a pure psychopath. Thankcyou for the video but it did make me angry !
Omg. I live here and never heard of this
Ok after all this stories I know one thing: NEVER go hiking in Russia...
This dude… no words
A recipe for disaster from start to finish
I really think that when it comes to students of any kind you shouldnt take them into the mountains unless you have the necessary equipment, good and knowledgeable local guides and ways to reach for help if you get into trouble. Though I kinda think that since most students dont have that much knowledge of hiking or climbing one shouldnt even do trips to mountains with students unless all of them have the necessary background for stuff of this kind.
I dnt understand why they were hitchhiking or buying tickets in the mountains to begin with. This is so confusing lol is it a hike or the Amazing Race? Lol
Pride and poor planning, what could possibly go wrong? Rules? We don’t follow rules.
The altay mountains are beyond beautiful, though.
I wish the political situation would stabilize enough to allow this place to be more open.
The headline for this TH-cam video is deceiving - 27 Students may have been left to die, but only one did…. Thank you for all the effort on this and the upload! I’m not trying to be nitpicky or ungrateful… Also, is it possible that Norin was just incredibly naïve? Not really criminal or arrogant? Just asking the question, but don’t really know the answer…
Cruel and heartless
Norin was a psycho for sure but the other guys who abandoned the girls were also monsters
Jesus, what a story….
Jeez what a f***ing catastrophe
Complete Disfunctional Disaster..::.
Dude they were all kids not simping yet . Trouble happens. survive. Simping won't help if you died
Norin is the epitome of a terrible leader and terrible person.
What's with all the sculptures of people made out of light brown poop?
Groop
grup
Grouep
1.15-1.25x playspeed
What a gong show