One of my favorite podcasts featured one of my favorite conspiracy stories!

In 1959, nine students ventured into the Ural mountains for a ski hiking trip, and never returned. While much speculation has swirled for more than half a century, no one knows for certain what caused them to abandon their camp to die in the cold.

While many have argued that there are perfectly reasonable explanations for what happened to the hikers, conspiracy theories abound regarding the states of the bodies when found, the radiation traces on their clothing, the likelihood (or lack thereof) of paranormal and/or extraterrestrial activity, and the reaction of the Russian government to the investigation.

The incident has inspired films, books, documentaries, and overall creepiness. Which makes this podcast an ideal listening experience for my aforementioned desire to scare myself this month.