He Was Abandoned by His Teammates and Disappeared With No Trace: BERMUDA TRIANGLE IN THE MOUNTAINS

[@nunyanope4988]

When I was young, my father rescued 2 woman and one kid from a rental boat deep in the crabbing channels of south Jersey. They had been left as well & had been there for hours waiting for rescue. It’s crazy cause we were only out there because a storm was coming and we needed to get our crab pots. My dad fixed their boat, followed them back and almost killed the guys at the boat rental place. I miss my dad, he was an literal hero.

[@lubystkaolamonola529]

I was always taught that if traveling by the group, adjust your speed to the weakest member of the group. If 7 people left home, then 7 people must meet on the peak, and 7 people must return exactly at the same time. No splitting, no rushing, no leaving behind, not "I am the first" nonsense.

[@Tabi1983]

Agreed. Whether going out to the pub or going hiking, what happened to leave no man behind??

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

That is perfect. The absolute only way it should be done.

[@letdanielletellyou]

Totally agree we go out 3 we come back all 3. With anything in life your doing, Mother Nature does not like arrogance and best believe that she will gladly take you as sad as that is. I believe she does thing in purpose to save others lives. Even when I was a young adult when you go out you never leave anyone behind at all. You make sure you know all plans from each other so by next day everyone is counted for.

[@emcooper3031]

That's the way wolf packs travel. The oldest and weakest set the pace.

[@chubbydinosaur9148]

That's what felt like a pan to the face! YOU DON'T LEAVE MATES BEHIND! They should've set up a camp and called for rescuers to come and pick him up.

[@carrielange2692]

my husband and I went on a guided canoeing trip once. two people per canoe down river, about a 12 hour trip. There were probably 20 canoes, two of them had guides. In one canoe was a middle aged woman and her autistic young adult son who was afraid of the water. The guides took the lead and left them far behind. They struggled mightily and at one point, their canoe capsized. The guides no where to be seen. In the middle of no-where Tennessee. We stopped to help them. Both of us had to get in the water. The son was freaking out, made it to the shore and started walking into the woods. My husband had to basically tackle him and drag him back to the water. The woman was panic stricken. My husband put the boy in his canoe, I took the woman in mine. We were all wet, muddy, cold, the boy kept trying to get out of the canoe. It was a nightmare, and I do believe that boy could have easily died if not for us. When we finally got to the end point, the guide didn't even realize we were missing. My husband told him how lucky he was that he didn't cause a death through his negligence.

[@randomcomment6068]

That reckless mother knew full well what her son is capable of, his fears and that she is unable to tackle him, but she did it any way. I blame that mother way more.

[@RaeBattleRapsMood]

That boy should NOT have been out there. A panicked person will get someone killed on water. Glad you all had the heart to help them.

[@carrielange2692]

@@randomcomment6068 it was 13 years ago and me and my husband are still baffled as to how the woman thought it was a good idea, and how the guide thought they were good candidates for the trip and why on earth they left us behind. I blame the mother and the guides both.

[@carrielange2692]

@@RaeBattleRapsMood I shudder even to this day thinking about what could have happened if we didn't stop as everyone else just floated on by them..

[@randomcomment6068]

@@carrielange2692 I understand where you're coming from. But the guide might not have been privy to all information to make a informed decision, mom certainly did. So I give mom more minus points for that. Leaving you behind was unexcusable though.

[@cherrytomato6139]

It is very puzzling that a man who had not been present at the training sessions was nevertheless allowed to take part. It seems the leader of the group is indeed responsible for first letting the unfit man to join and then for leaving him behind in his weakened state alone.

[@whitedragoness23]

He never should of been allowed to skip the physical testing. If she allowed him to skip it then yes the blame lies on her for losing someone because that’s why the testing was there. To see if they could make it up the mountain or not

[@jovelove2115]

That’s exactly where I’d hold her responsible.

[@azazello1784]

He wasn't a baby. He signed release form and knew the risks.

[@FinnishLapphund]

I got stuck on that another participant said that at some point the hike turned into a race. Nothing in the preparation requirements said that the participants must from any point be able to finish the rest of the hike at some type of race speed. Also, if he really refused to participate in on site pre hike stuff, and those things could've told the instructor if he really was capable of completing the hike in the speed she had planned, she should've told him he had to do it, or he couldn't go on the hike. By the way, 64 years old. I know several persons older than that, fully capable of going on tough, several days long hikes, as long as a bunch of younger participants doesn't try to turn it into a race.

[@chubbydinosaur9148]

In my experience, the older the worse, especially when they're German. No one's stronger and faster than a german grandma who takes Doppelherz shots 😂

[@lewis2301]

@@chubbydinosaur9148 Every trail in the UK, scrambles included there's always a 50+ year old that is jogging full speed straight past you lol.

[@kinglar]

right age has nothing to do with it ? Ok super boomer .

[@molloyczterynowele]

@@chubbydinosaur9148 agreed! The only cyclists I saw in the middle of nowhere on the desert in Usbekistan we're 2 old Germans. I was not surprised at all 😂

[@WhitneyDahlin]

@@kinglar but why did they just not allow anyone 55 and over on the hike at all?

[@irena4545]

I think the guide should have kicked him out the moment he refused to do the training. Anyone unwilling to follow instructions and cooperate had no place being there, and the preparation could have shown that he wasn't in the shape required to take the hike. It wasn't right to leave him alone, though, no matter what a PITA he might have been, no-one is ever left alone in the mountains, ever. But it was a very understandable error on their part - a guy who thinks himself too good to do the training had really better _not_ turn out the weakest link. To waste all their effort (and money) because of _him_... it still doesn't make their action right but I must admit I would be sorely tempted myself.

[@tessaducek5601]

Your comment makes the most reasonable sense.

[@alinonymous]

Strict discipline is not the spirit of a mountain hike, though.

[@irena4545]

@@alinonymous I'd say that getting yourself killed because you think that you know better spoils the spirit even more. Besides, I doubt that mountain guides keep bossing people around without a good reason to.

[@diegonatan6301]

The guide's version of the story will be biased towards the guide though. Since the hike became a race and he didn't sign up for a race it would be very understandable if he got pissed. Maybe he was totally prepared for a hike, just not for a race...

[@jovelove2115]

Agreed. Refusing to do the training? Crazy

[@canterburytail2294]

I have a friend who is part of a helicopter rescue team in the mountains and he said the most important thing is to not leave the place you were last scene should you need to be rescued and to take anything you have that is colorful and to spread it around the area you are in so as to easier seen from the air should an air search be launched.

[@greendragon4058]

Yes that is rule number one

[@judd0112]

Yes it is always the best thing is to sit tight and wait. Although sometimes there are circumstances that require you to try and save yourself it all depends on where the incident has taken place.

[@stee8345]

Seen not scene

[@canterburytail2294]

@@stee8345 I actually know that, I should always reread what I write as my typos can get embarrassing, much worse than this one lol!!. The "scene you were seen in". I mean haha! Cheers!

[@christianclavel7231]

He should had know that, too.

[@autarko]

Passing the training should have been a prerequisite for joining the hike. The group leader is fully responsible as she should have known immediately that he was not capable.

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

Exactly

[@A.Girl.Has.No.Name.]

Because the other team members wanted to continue, (the team leader) "had no choice" but to leave Ulyanov behind?! I'm sorry, she absolutely had a choice, and ultimately, she chose to sacrifice one team member's life to ensure the rest of the team's ability to complete a hike. How very, very sad.

[@teijaflink2226]

Yeah, she should have told the others this is not a competition and no one is left behind. Specially cruel to leave behind someone struggling when they where not even in danger.

[@WhitneyDahlin]

Thats just how it is in eastern Europe. Being slow or the weakest is a moral failing there.

[@sx5r]

​@@WhitneyDahlin I think it's a bit more complicated. While I agree, leaving him behind was questionable, there are some issues to be considered: 1. non of the members of the tour knew each other, they were not friends or anything 2. he lied about his experience and ability in order to be taken on this tour 3. he avoided the training phase (presumably to uphold the lies) 4. the other members had to carry most of his load in order for him to come along at all 5. he lost his backpack, other climbers had to recover it and in addition had to carry his belongings from thereon 6. he delayed the group on every turn and jeopardised their holiday goal I do understand their reluctance to turn back for someone whose incompetence and dishonesty already ruined part of their vacation. Did he deserve to die for it? Certainly not. 🤔

[@GrdDog]

@@sx5r hmmm lets see here, the rest of the team decided to leave a compromised member of the team along to capture the glory with the leader's approval; this action resulted in the man's death, with zero accountability. The team treated this like a timed race; knowing a team member (who should not have been there) was in trouble, another failure with zero accountability. The dead man is blamed for not going to the training; yet he is not there to defend himself and I believe all the members of the team would cover their asses by saying as such, yet the leader let the dead man go, another failure that led to the man's death, yet there was ZERO accountability. A map, a radio with KNOWN good batteries (which the group had) could have given the man a better shot, yet the leader decided not to leave the tools with him, another failure that led to the man's death, with zero accountability. The change in the story about what kind of food was left for the dead man is also off; two different people say different food items were left, leader gives a positive spin, other person not so much, who is to be believed? In the end this proves to never go out with a group in the wild on a hike, camping or mountain climbing; if you have never gone with them before, this is proof of what can happen, you can die without a care by the team you are with.

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

@@WhitneyDahlin 1) have you ever been to Eastern Europe? 2) You realize all this happened NOT in Eastern Europe, with NOT-Eastern European hikers? 3) You’re American…. i’ll bet

[@AtomicExtremophile]

For me, his not attending the training/assessment was a red flag - it should have been made clear to him that if he didn't participate, then he couldn't join the hike! Other failures are leaving a man behind alone - his struggles could have led to a medical emergency, the clear 'summit fever' of the team... I'd also question as to whether the guide - having decided to leave him behind alone - should have assessed his survival skillset - did he know about leaving a message behind if he moved, for example. That none of his gear was found seems more indicative that he fell into a gully or crevasse...if he'd been taken by animals surely some of his gear would have been found? It's clear he was not up to the task, surely a fact a decent assessment policy would have found...for sure if he kept saying to leave him behind at every stop, he should have returned sooner. There again, if it weren't for the team's summit fever, he may have kept up...

[@vamperus]

If the hike became “a race” and that’s why he was left behind - that’s negligence imo. Very sad for him, his family and I can’t imagine the guilt the rest of the team feels over the loss. It’s easy to say “I would do *blank*” we don’t know.

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

I would have never left him behind ,that was a death sentence ..

[@jessicapearson9479]

They don't feel guilty.

[@teijaflink2226]

Men that team didn't care shit that an elderly man was struggling, they just thought about themselves and what they want, doubt they feel any guilt.

[@aprilkane]

I get that he was maybe difficult to work with and not fit for the hike (which might explain why he didn’t do the training…cuz he knew they’d say you can’t go with us) BUT honestly this instructor did NOT tell him to “stay put”, she told him (according to this video) that “if anything were to happen, you have to descend on your own.” So it’s no wonder he left to try and make it back to bass camp when they didn’t return when they said they would (due to the bad weather)!!! He was doing what she told him to do. To make it on his own. He wouldn’t have had a clue that “rescuers” were looking for him or would be looking for him and that he was supposed to “stay put” - how would he know when the instructor told him to start descending if something happened? So to him obviously the group NOT showing up when they planned to would qualify as “something happening”…that’s kind of common sense that something happened! So not sure how anyone would have expected him to stay put. He probably thought for sure that he was on his own from then on out. So sad.

[@poutinedream5066]

Given his age, I would have been concerned that maybe he was having heart trouble or something. He could have been transitioning into a medical emergency but not recognizing it for what it was- especially if he has been more than capable for rhis kind of hike for many years, and now he suddenly can't do it. After they left, it may have become evident that he needed medical attention, and waiting for them to return was not an option. I have seen several Russian guides get brought up on charges when they were obviously totally innocent of any wrongdoing. In this case, the guides neglect likely caused this man's death, and she just walks away. I just don't get it.

[@nekograce7914]

Your user name…is that Canadian Poutine? Or Irish (poteen🥴)?

[@kspen6110]

I was thinking along the same lines. It said he was slow and behind most of the trip. And that he wasn't feeling well. He could have been experiencing some early signs of a health emergency. So they all decided to leave an older man who was obviously not up to this particular hike. It would have been nice if someone in the group volunteered to give up their hike and stay with him. But I also understand they saved money and took time off to go on this adventure. Personally I feel he felt like he needed to get into an area he could call for help. On that mission he either became sicker and collapsed and animals took him or he fell somewhere hidden from the rescuers. I can see the instructor and the elder man being at fault. I hope he is found someday.

[@engespress]

That's what I think too. Very negligent of the leader.

[@ladyinfinity9071]

The other thing is that family and friends claimed that he was kind and friendly and the guide said he was argumentative. It sort of reminded me of a brain aneurysm. They can cause changes in emotion e.g. confusion, irratability and they can even cause weakness in half the body/face or in any limbs when it's ruptured. Some may also experience loss of conciousness and seizures. The scary thing is that brain aneurysms can happen at any age and in anyone, regardless of health, but they occur most frequently in adults aged betweeen 30 and 60. If he had any warning signs of a brain aneurysm, he may have shrugged them off, as the signs are usually frequent headaches from nowhere, blurred vision and nausea.

[@dfuher968]

U never leave any1 behind, unless its a matter of life and death, and certainly not with so little food and equipment, and just counting on nothing happening to stop them from getting back to them. Saying he signed a release is bs. If he could not go any further, either turn the whole group around or let the others wait while taking him back. Its insane to leave him with a tent, a couple of cans of soup, only his basic equipment, no way to start a fire, no navigation or communication. She never shouldve taken him along in the first place, since he refused to attend the training session. But once she did, he was her responsibility, and she failed it. His life is on her, and frankly, every1 else, who were fine ditching him, so they could continue, hopefully spend the rest of their lives thinking of the man, they left to die.

[@migoreng7789]

i wonder what age group the other participants were in. if he was the oldest one and they got annoyed by him being slow while they became competitive among each other... this truly could've been prevented. why they had to leave him alone, like couldn't someone stay with him. this is so weird and upsetting. no charges were pressed... not even suspension of license??? i know people who lost their guide permit for less 💀

[@canterburytail2294]

What a tragedy. For such an experienced hiker it is surprising he wasn't found, nor any signs of him either, strange and sad.

[@ArchiesArchive]

yeah, he just vanished…

[@kathyinwonderlandl.a.8934]

Bears more than likely

[@js2702]

Too bad for him he wasn’t a hot 35 year old.

[@dosidicusgigas1376]

@Kathy in Wonderland L.A. i thought bears dont really hunt people besides like polar bears and some northern brown bears

[@LathropLdST]

@@js2702 Nor are you, bozo. You just wrote one of the most useless and inane comments I have ever read.

[@samcar06c]

I really enjoy the context that you provide about the region! It helps to ground the story.

[@Void0420]

You don’t leave people behind.

[@miriamha970]

I feel the leader of the group had to assign someone one to stay with Vladimir, for safety reasons only and leave him a map since they had multiple copies. He would of had a better chance at survival if he had another human and a map. The entire group was being selfish for leaving Vladimir behind, so very inhumane.

[@alinonymous]

Groups that are out to achieve something should be formed primarily based on ability and compatibility. They shouldn't have been together in the first place. And, because of his superior experience and Anna's better physical shape, I can see a fault line developing. Mountains test not only one's physique and morale but also one's social skills. Imagine being stuck in a tent with someone you dislike for some 48 hrs while outside it's raining heavily... Compatibility first. The fact that Anna wasn't quite happy to have him in the group speaks volumes, although it's not enough to blame her. The guy should have stayed out of something he found too competitive. As for the decision not to leave him any map or compass, it seems a bit paternalistic. You don't want to trap a 64-yr old into waiting for you no matter what. The guy's self-esteem must have been badly battered.

[@DellaMcClare8888]

When people get to a certain age their health and fitness level can drop very rapidly without an apparent trigger. Many people can seem perfectly fine and be able to complete certain feats of fitness reliably, then that all changes in a few weeks or months even if their lifestyle has not changed. It often happens too quickly for the person or their family to catch on that this is their new normal now. He could have not realized his health had taken a plunge, it's also possible that he was having trouble keeping up because he actually had a health condition he was unaware of, such as some kind of infection. It could have got worse during his solitary wait and he may have felt the need to get somewhere with phone reception to call for help. I have seen this happen a lot in the military, someone can keep up with drills and then one week they are lagging behind slightly and nobody thinks anything of it, they just figure the person is slacking off or let themselves go a little bit , but 90% of the time it turns out a few days later that they were ill, usually with something serious and their fitness was masking a lot of symptoms. When somebody sits down to rest after days of strenuous activity it can also let a health issue they have been fighting suddenly worsen rapidly, almost like the body got a signal to say they don't need to hold it at bay anymore.

[@lioneldemun6033]

Exactly my case. Before Covid I made intensive Gym. Then I stopped ( obliged to stay home). Then I got vaccinated. A year later I suffered an aneurysm. Now I m exhausted after my daily 3 km walk. I m 67 by the way.

[@DellaMcClare8888]

@@lioneldemun6033 Sorry to hear that Lionel, I hope you can enjoy life more soon.

[@wmluna381]

For me, that was when I crossed over to age 40 in terms of my natural/default stamina and endurance diminishing. I used to be able to bust out 8-10 hrs of consistent physical activity in a workday. Now I'm at 4 hrs sustained and peak out at 6 hrs at age 48. I can still manage to trek 15 miles on level ground in a day with a 20 lb. pack, but that's over 8-10 hrs with breaks. My bosses are in their mid-late 50's and still manage to complete some of the shorter marathons, but they've been training consistently for over a decade. If you're much younger and only moderately active now, how your body ends up managing its advancing age is something to consider.

[@issakariet558]

@@lioneldemun6033 Waw, I 'm sorry for you! But watching this video, my question was: "Was Ulyanov injected with this terrible Co.v.id vaccination" ????

[@rygbiarth1209]

I think the outcome of the inquiry makes sense - if you want to lead a group then be clear about what that means both in terms of preparations beforehand and protocols for what will happen in the event of several emergency scenarios. It should be a pre-requisite that you carry out any training required so that your fitness and overall ability can be independently assessed. Then, if you pass that requirement the next step is agreeing how the hike will be managed - including equipment needed, who carries what, the route(s) you will take (for example if you are ascending one way but descending another) and, most importantly, what to do if someone is injured, becomes unwell, the weather closes in, there is a natural disaster, etc. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Presumably the inquiry spoke to other members of the group to reach their conclusion, otherwise it’s just the guide giving an account which is more than likely to be in her favour (particularly given that she said she didn’t like him) and in contrast to what his friends have said about him, who went hiking with him regularly. What I can’t understand more than anything is the advice to ‘stay put’ but also ‘if we don’t come back, descend by yourself’ and then to not even to leave a map or a GPS system to enable him to do the latter. That’s baffling and negligent. All very sad and feels avoidable too. Also not sure about some people commenting on his age… the oldest person to climb Everest did so at the ages of 70, 75 and 80. Age is immaterial, it’s about ability and preparation.

[@kym2834]

You do wonder if they really left him behind, or something more sinister happened

[@cmcer1995]

Who knows for sure what he did after they left, but he should have stayed put period. If he was being disagreeable during the hike, maybe not being a team player, maybe his mental status had changed, disrupting his judgement. Definitely he should have participated in the training or not be allowed to participate. He was apparently not is distress when the group moved on and it sounds like he had adequate supplies for the short term as long as he had protection from the elements. We all take our chances in our decision making and sometimes we pay the ultimate price too.

[@katiecasper5665]

Who knows what that instructor was saying all true? If he had missed the training she shouldn't have allowed him to go for the hike, also the other participants informed that it was kind of a race, leaving him behind and asking him to go down on his own if anything should happened without giving him a map, clearly it's a negligence of that instructor and because of her negligence he is missing now

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

You're right about mountains capturing the soul from a young age.

[@mvtv-montanavigilantetv5976]

From the first time I saw Glacier Park (esp the Garden Wall from the Many Glacier side), I've been convinced it's also some kind of cosmic message of the gods/God.

[@jerrymoore838]

When you're a guide, your main responsibility is to ensure the safety of those you're leading. Everything else is secondary. I guided people on horseback for many years. You adjust to the needs of the most inexperienced or challenged. If one person was not able to go faster than a walk, the ride was paced at a walk. If any rider still had difficulty, a lead line was placed on their horse. The guide in this case was most definitely at fault for leaving behind Mr. Ulyanov. It does not matter what any of the others wanted. It was her job as the guide to take the lead and let the group know that leaving one of them behind was not an option. Unconscionable to leave anyone behind. Her dislike of him likely influenced her decision, which makes her actions even worse

[@christineribone9351]

Why am I thinking this was doomed from the start: no experience necessary, minimum requirements, 64 yrs old, poor physical condition, difficult personality, The Bermuda triangle, deepest caves in the world, and unknown weather conditions. Once I heard about the Bermuda Triangle I shook my head. Further, they left him no map, no navigation device, and very little food. 😵😣😞

[@calliecooper1809]

I love your videos! I was so happy to see you had a new upload! You're so well spoken and such a great story teller. Side note- anyone else get a good jump from the audio? Not sure if it was just me.

[@frost1183]

Archies archive is my favorite mystery KZbin channel!

[@evinnra2779]

Several things are suspicious in this story. How does an experienced mountain hiker put his bag in the wrong spot, so it just accidentally falls 70m? How come a well trained group leader allows a 64 year old to not complete the training for the hike and then act surprised that the 64 y.o. can not keep up with the speed of younger participants? If by all accounts the 64 year old wanted to stop and rest longer at every possible point stage of the hike , why didn't they tell him to turn back after the second time he tried to rest longer than others? Most suspicious of all is, how did this group leader avoid jail time for her criminal negligence?!

[@milesjcarter]

"He was given less weed to carry due to his age, only 6.9kg..." 😂😜

[@antzabingle8593]

Sometimes one must just accept you get older and not join expeditions that is difficult

[@carmendaniel3734]

RIP Vladimir. So sad. Definitely the lady in charge made a big mistake by leaving him behind. He also should have stayed by the tent and not venture out on his own. That's too dangerous. 😢

[@allybally0021]

'...we decided not to leave him a map'. Then they left him. He was let down quite badly there.

[@melodymacken9788]

Good grief, what a story. I guess certain people had some serious life lessons to learn. RIP.

[@kne2323]

"He was betrayed by his own experience..."??? What a crock - his own teammates have blood on their hands. Shameful....

[@7thsealord888]

It does seem like Ulyanov got out of his depth at least twice in this climb - when being unable to continue, and in whatever he tried to do next. My thought is that maybe he tried to somehow REJOIN the group? Also, what his team says about him is at odds with what other people had previously said about him. People not wanting to speak ill of the dead, or some kind of conflict, or a personality change? His group's decisions are VERY questionable, I agree.

[@isabellind1292]

Thank you Archie's Archive. 👍👍

[@elizalee6087]

Pride got the best of him refusing the training course that caused the leader to dislike him due to his attitude not cooperating like the others. So as the leader that was a red flag not to allow him in the hike with the group, that's normally what would happen from a professional and experienced leader.

[@DaGoonR]

Climbers are left at camps all the time, usually not alone but it happens. I've left people at camps and have been left at camps so the rest of the team could summit RQ. The secret is to not wander off alone when you're sick or injured. Stay put. RIP

[@katiecasper5665]

But I'm sure you wouldn't instruct them to go on their own if something should've happened? Which is what happened in this case...

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

⁠@@katiecasper5665 if ulyanov was as experienced as he’d said, he wouldn’t have taken those words literally

[@baileybubbles13]

Watching this video, I’m remembering something about my stepfather. He was a sea captain and always said the ocean was his mother. He told my mom (when having one of those existential conversations) that if he know that he was on the verge of death he would want to go out on his boat (loving named “the prince of tides”) and just swim. Let his mother take him to whatever’s next. That wasn’t allowed when he was too sick to make the decision himself but he’s ashes were given to his mother, out on the water from his boat. I’m not saying that’s definitely what happened here. But with Vladimir’s experience and apparent love of hiking maybe he made a choice. Wanting his body to remain in a place that spoke to him. The way hiking can cause that change in people, I don’t think it’s an outlandish theory.

[@kiki1573]

I've had my fill of hearing stories about people leaving someone they know to fend for themselves in 2022. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment because I just subscribed to this channel.

[@dougschwieder3627]

Like so many other mountain tragedies this one seems like a lot of predictable problems. It's obvious that if it's going to be a race he's not going to be keeping up. If he's not going to participate in the training it's even more obvious. This is way more involved than "hiking". Especially in spring in the mountains. Considering the time of year alone I'd say that he would be a no go unless someone had experience with him in this kind of environment, rather than just simple hiking in the mountains in summer. I'm almost his age and never did do outdoors stuff regularly and I can tell you that any time I saw older people who did they were much thinner than he was. I was amazed not that an older person could do this stuff, but that they defied the common stereotype of older people sitting home doing nothing.

[@CloudlessStudio]

I just want you to know, I love your hiking stories!

[@robertahubert9155]

I was raised in the Colorado Mountains. I love the snow and I love the mountains. These videos make me feel sad and good at the same time. Sad because I now live in the City and good because it reminds me of my childhood.

[@THEbeautifuLIE]

It’s pretty disgusting to see so many people coming up with the wildest of “possible reasons why” this man was left behind (maybe he was being mean or maybe he couldn’t keep up or maybe he didn’t respect “hiking”). There is *NO* reason beyond the safety of the other hikers for him to have been left. If that instructor could remember allllllll the snacks and all the gear and all the supplies and all the everything-else they left him. . .and claims they told him however many times to not go anywhere, to not attempt to hike away from there, etc. . .then, why would he need to be left in the first place??? That’s not a conversation you have with someone being unruly or disrespectful or whatever else they tried to come up with. This was disgusting. Not surprised that the leader chick faced zero consequences tho🙄

[@waynegoddard4065]

Very well put together video.

[@ArchiesArchive]

Glad you liked it!

[@kcnugfan]

So much went wrong here. 😕 Should have either been told he was not allowed to go since he ignored the pre hike training that was recommended, or if he was to be left behind, someone should have stayed with him to wait or better yet to begin the withdrawal with him. I do however agree with no charges being placed on the instructor as he was just as negligent by not being prepared.

[@helendietrich7566]

Ironically, I know a group of friends who were in a very similar situation - a younger group with a female leader eager to prove herself and a very experienced 60+ mountaneer. He was a bit sexist. She was a bit too arrogant and inexperieced. So, the non-explict conflict was brewing throughout the whole hike. Yet no one in the right mind would think about splitting the group for no good reason or worse leaving one man behind. However, people are different and I can speculate that both Vladimir and the rest of the group + the guide felt the tension and had their own ambitions and hurt egos and mutually agreed that this was the right decision (despite it being violation of all hiking ethiquette if one can say so, which all of them should be aware of). But perhaps emotions took their tall. The weird thing thing is why they weren't more specific about deadlines of their return, why not leave the map or why he didn't leave a note. Perhaps, they were too pissed off at each other.

[@infinitintaligence-wq3xx]

His Age and lack of Physical Fitness is the real reason. Seeing his picture show this was true. Thank you for sharing 👍

[@mvtv-montanavigilantetv5976]

Assigning blame is problematic. If part of a formal, paid hike then ... yes in that evaluating customer ability is necessary. And other time a person's adult word and choice to be out there would be enough. Had to be there for own eyes/ears to judge things at point of leaving him. A lot of people would decide to just go back in this deceptive landscape. Only takes one mistake. Last I knew, just short of 11 folk remain missing in Glacier Park itself.

[@SSugarBoots]

"We decided not to leave a map because we didn’t want him getting any ideas about going anywhere alone." What, like you told him he would have to do if something happened?

[@djohnson9083]

Very thought-provoking. Nice video.

[@drimachuck]

Wtf what do you mean they just left him there with a tent and supplies by himself????

[@ripwednesdayadams]

People are absolutely tearing the guide apart but at what point is a grown man responsible for himself? I’m not advocating cruelty but when he refused to train with them, that should have been it. He never should have been on that mountain to begin with. Should they have left him a map? Absolutely? Do I wish death on anyone? Of course not. Sadly, he made made his choices and unfortunately, they ultimately led to his death. I used to be one of those people who couldn’t understand why sick, injured, or tired people were left alone on deadly mountains but the reality is that putting the onus on others to secure your safety endangers their lives. This is evident through the story- particularly when the hikers who were searching for his body had to be evacuated.

[@y7awsbe2000]

he made poor choices after the fact, but the instructor should have seen the red flags when he refused to do any training and he shouldn't have been allowed on the team in the first place. then none of this would have happened, or at least not on her watch. you leave more supplies with someone than what they left him, they should have left a map. there is literally no fucking excuse for abandoning someone alone with basically nothing, especially after ignoring red flags that he would be a liability. she made poor choices, too.

[@greendragon4058]

I love your videos how well that they're written and presented with pictures and information about all the people in the group. I learned in the military you never leave a man behind they should have had one person stay with him to make sure he went nowhere because that's the rule of hiking or anything stay where you are until the rescue comes because people know where you are. We have a race but every year to the top of the mountain. We had one guy but just disappeared I don't know how nobody knows betrayal as well covered because it's a race helicopters jeeps and you can name it went up there they're trying to find them and he was never found to this day, and it's so easy to play the blame game

[@jessicapearson9479]

If he couldn't go with them then she should have turned everyone around!! Leaving him behind is not ok even if you didn't like him!!

[@mapachehombre1581]

Should never have abandoned him they Should have rested up until he was fit enough to travel

[@lioneldemun6033]

Once I made a ski hike with a group that was more experienced than me ( I hadn't been screened before) and when it became obvious I didn't have the expertise ( always lost my sealskins when climbing) the leader shouted at me even insulted me. He ordered a guy to wait for me and bellowed at me " and you' d' better hurry, he is not your butler"...never met such a mean son of a bitch in any sports.Real drill sergeant.

[@m.mcg.1837]

They're assuming he walked down. He may have walked up, after the group, thinking they'd run into problems and needed his help. They group descended a different way, and it required certain fortitude to do. So did any of the rescuers track it back up the mountain, after his night's rest, on the original path they headed up. When he didn't find the group, or supplies, he may have perished.

[@abdellahiehreimo3402]

Was waiting ur upload

[@A.S.P.A.]

Tremendously narrated. Thanks 👍

[@HealThyAse]

Always a fan of your vids.

[@ArchiesArchive]

thank you!

[@botswanna6738]

they should not have left him. that is the period fact. the burden of this tragedy rests with the leader and your efforts to dilute that fact are on vain, but I do appreciate your being objective.

[@migoreng7789]

i find it interesting how first you said people only get left behind in case of emergency but later mentioned leaving someone and telling them to wait is normal. what's the truth

[@RaeBattleRapsMood]

I think they got frustrated and tired of babysitting. They just left him behind. Sad

[@ladyweasellou3367]

I work SAR, team Medical Sargent, the number of horrible guides we've been coming across having to clean up their messes lately is absolutely terrifying.

[@frost1183]

Archie your Chanel is awesome I have to ask you. Where is your accent from? It sounds very interesting.

[@Stan4535814]

Not leaving the man a map is a condescending, insulting, and evil act (or in this case, intentional non-action). Being American, I am SO sick of governmental and other so-called "authorities" who assume individuals somehow require protection from themselves. I think this guy was old enough to prove that he was capable of making critical decisions. This article was maddening for listening, even while clearly very well put together (as per usual, Archie!)

[@beverlybalius9303]

He was stupid to even go on a hike at 64 yrs old.

[@Stan4535814]

@@beverlybalius9303 I'm gonna guess that your middle name is Karen...

[@engespress]

I agree.

[@you-dont-know-me]

Exactly my thoughts, thank you. This man was not a child, he was older, wiser than them all. How could they even consider that he doesn't deserve one of the several copies of maps??

[@rogerscottcathey]

Well that photo of him looks like he's about to collapse. There should be preliminary endurance tests before allowing anyone to challenge the heights.

[@aleksejjovanovic986]

Dont judge a book by its cover. I know several Slavic men 60+ that would beat the fuck out of you in stamina and strength.

[@rogerscottcathey]

@@aleksejjovanovic986 : Look at the poor guy we're talking about sir. And he never came back. Bless his soul.

[@rogerscottcathey]

@Florida Guy : Yes, I'm aware. Some from inexperience, some with experience from exhaustion. Some are truly mystifying. So, yes. I am aware.

[@aleksejjovanovic986]

@@rogerscottcathey That is what you see, i see a highly experienced elderly man, that probably had more experience than every body combined in that group, with that experience also comes endurance and probably having more than anyone else there. However elderly can`t go that fast as the younger and this is the issue, they left him only because he was slower and for this that "leader" should be standing trial. I guarantee that they did not leave him because he could not walk, they got into fight because he was probably criticizing them for their fast hiking and i can bet my life on if he was given the chance to hike in his speed he would endure twice as long distance than any other bimbo in that group including that "leader" that left him there.

[@heilajay]

maybe every one is looking at this the wrong way. the area known as the Bermuda triangle is known for people disappearing. i believe the authorities should look at it as an possible murder and not a disappearance. this man is very experienced and i get the feeling from the survivors own words, they did not get along with him at all, this is giving me the idea they had an altercation with him and in this he died . they berried him and made this story as it is believable. the fact they conveniently could not return the same way passing him, not finding his tent or any indication of him being there. this is a real reason to investigate this as a possible murder. they are all hiding something, too many conveniences.

[@PrimevalDemon]

I've never heard the conflicts be brushed aside so briskly

[@jenniferbreaux7385]

Did he overestimate his stamina? If he's stayed put, he might have had more success with being rescued

[@Itsachapel]

Lots of people assigning blame in this comment section instead of just grieving who was lost. He looks very kind

[@Davidpostingshid]

It’s called hindsight

[@Itsachapel]

@@Davidpostingshid hindsight is if the man who died noticed the signs later had he lived, newsflash babe he didn’t

[@justherbirdy]

​@@Itsachapel Hindsight is people making hypothetical decisions, with the benefit of knowing how the actual decisions made turned out. So although Vladimir didn't survive, the other hikers, the guide, and everyone else hearing the story can compare the decisions made with other decisions that could have been made - in hindsight, we can say it seems like the guide made a huge mistake leaving him alone. If he had lived, maybe we would be saying it was still a mistake but not so bad (because he lived), or maybe we would be saying it was the right decision (if he and the group had made a collective decision that this was best for everyone, understanding that there were risks in leaving someone alone).

[@lizziepadalecki8116]

He sounded like a pain in the ass. Refuses to take part in the training, constantly bragged about how good his physical state was despite plenty of evidence otherwise, was too proud to bow out when everyone knew he shouldn’t have kept going. Plus how much he kept lagging behind everyone-constantly having to wait for someone who is being so slow is frustrating. He should have known what was going to happen. It was his own fault for choosing this difficult hike. He should have stayed in his safe tent. However, he shouldn’t have been left behind. That was poor leadership.

[@Juliett-we7tc]

I’m kinda in the camp of people who would think that an animal got him. His bones would get scattered around, some carried off ect and in such a desolate area, I still think it would be really hard to find single bones scattered or carried all over them it would be to find an in tact skeleton. Just my own personal opinion though.

[@teniente_snafu]

You can have all the pleasant and challenging mountain adventures without putting your life at stake.

[@MariaAbrams]

I don't understand why they left him behind. Idc if other people wanted to go on, at least one other person should have stayed with him. Number one rule in life- never go off alone! Idc if he WAS a jerk! You can't just leave someone behind like that with the bare minimums of supplies. One day can turn into 10 very quickly. Still strange that no sign of him has ever been found. He should have just stayed at his camp, but bottom line, someone should have stayed behind with him. Safety in numbers ALWAYS. Sad....

[@jdgenjry]

Idk how anyone can speak on what's an honor in death when the dead cant agree with that. Surely they'd preferred to have made it off these mountains.. Sad we'll never know what happened to him

[@theoriginaleb9616]

Everyone blaming the instructor, but Vladimir should be given his fair share of the responsibility. Not only was he not physically fit enough, he opted out of the preparation, he asked to be left behind, and he didn’t wait to be rescued as he was instructed. He wasn’t a child; he was a grown man whose ego wrote a check that his butt couldn’t cash. The instructor could appease everyone (except one) by letting him wait for their return, or she could make everyone upset by refusing to leave him and abandoning the climb. They all thought they left him in a safe place with everything he needed. It wouldn’t have been fair to the other hikers to turn around. They put their money and effort into proper preparation. One man’s overgrown ego shouldn’t ruin the excursion for everyone. But of course, I’m sure everyone would have been fine with abandoning the climb climb if they thought the man was in any danger. He portrayed himself as very mountain-savvy, so they trusted he would be fine and make smart decisions. That said, I am very sorry he was lost. And I’m very sorry for his friends and family. He certainly didn’t expect or deserve to lose his life. A cancelled hike is nothing compared to a canceled life. Hindsight is 20/20. I’m sure if the group thought he would be in any danger, they wouldn’t have left him. My point is, it was a series of bad decisions by multiple people that ended in a tragedy. I don’t think it’s fair to put this man’s demise solely on the instructor’s shoulders.

[@danielx555]

Mountaineering is interesting, but it's a dangerous and compulsive behavior that is often rooted in other issues. Watching people put their lives at risk over nothing reminds me of watching crack smokers seeing who can torch the biggest rock.

[@Judymotto742]

Archie your our rock ⭐ star ..thanks ♥️

[@silentbliss7666]

This was a selfish group and unprofessional instructor is all I can say. Put the responsibilities on him by all means, dead men tell no tales ...

[@shanearmitage1762]

I'm pretty sure I've heard this narrator read the book by James Allen "as a man thinketh". I can't find his version of it online any longer, but it was definitely the best I've heard. If I'm wrong, they have very similar voices.

[@whitedragoness23]

I’m not sure why he wasn’t also subjected to the same tests to see if he could withstand the physical commitment of climbing. I think he was too confident or didn’t want to admit it. Plus he didn’t take into account what if his teams mates leave him behind. He was too used to being strong and independent. His team should of assisted him downwards. Yes they would of wasted a day or so. They choose the “acceptable” routine leave him in spots not preparing for what if the worse case scenario happens? I get the feeling they didn’t like his hard to get along nature making it easier to separate themselves from him

[@lisadolan689]

There’s something proper creepy about the instructors photographs of herself in the mountains… just saying 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@schoolwork232]

With those swords and all...

[@pietro4772]

@@schoolwork232 The one at 21:46 where she is striking a pose wrapped in rope surrounded by pick axes? Would have made the perfect label for a vodka bottle.

[@m.streicher8286]

The Soviet Bermuda triangle has more legitimacy than its namesake.

[@Tsumami__]

Nope. None of that is real.

[@Chaos_God_of_Fate]

I was just thinking the same thing!

[@frankblangeard8865]

Keep in mind that a guide is a business person and that money is a factor in their decisions. Allowing someone on the climb who may not be ideally qualified or going up in quesitonable weather is something that may give them a profit and enable them to stay in business. Guiding is highly competitive and a reputation for cancelling climbs for any reason can give them a bad reputation.

[@georgittesingbiel219]

It seems like the missing hiker had a stubborn streak 😕. Not participating in the training/meeting. He should have been a priority on the way back. However. I fault the guide here. And where is the compassion among the other hikers? I don't get it.

[@haleykay163]

Anyone who leaves anyone on a mountain should spend every night of their lives knowing they contributed to someone's death. At the end of the day, they chose the mountain over a person's life.

[@justlolit]

He should have been given a map. That's was very stupid

[@sethwiley7839]

One thing they leave out is could it have been suicide? Did he have other health issues he was keeping a secret. That's why he kept saying I can wait for you. Not I need some help and want to go back down or at least leave a person with me. Every mountain story I've heard on youtube, which is all and all new. They always act like they care about them finishing the hike. If its fight or flight you have to choose one. Most people on all other circumstances woild be save my life. I think hikers care more about there lives then they act. Otherwise you wouldn't call and have other people risk there lives to save you. All aspects need to be searched and it seems suicide is easily dismissed. Without real researching and only asking family, friends and hiking partners. When there hiking there at there happiest. Most families of suicides say they never could commit siicide. After a cop tells them there loved one died of suicide. These could help guides because if they wanted to die, it would be easy on a mountain. And hiding there body could be easy depending on location.

[@randomcomment6068]

🤔

[@zukosmom3780]

So you’re blaming her, the instructor?

[@blueskies6475]

I've been in situations when you find out people in your family wish you harm.

[@EdgarAwad]

Rule number 1, never leave any group member behind. There's nothing like 1 day won't matter even if she gave him food/shelter, you're in wilderness anything might happen in a second! Although I'm a Solo Mountaineer, on rare occasions when I joined groups, preferred taking the back seat to be sure all reach the goal the summit, and even when I saw random groups climbing near me, couldn't but keep my eyes on them time to time to be sure they're still safe, so how if they're climbers who I'm leading...Not every group guide is a leader!

[@frost1183]

Mountains are the love of my life

[@chicagogyrl4846]

So one person said if he’s on your team it will be good, then this woman said that he wasn’t easy to get along with! 😂🤣

[@louiekiwi]

The roads aren't mined and there's no armed squads. I went all over those roads last summer. Maybe this was the case 15 years ago.

[@mori.kurogawa7936]

I would only go hiking, mountaineering with close friends. Close friends don't leave each other.

[@Tsumami__]

Oh boy. He wasn’t abandoned, he refused to keep going and chose to stay. He didn’t sound, from the way you described it, anyhow, like he was sick or had altitude sickness, it sounded like he was just being a baby and didn’t prepare himself for the hike. The guide should have insisted he stop whining and continue on. If he persisted she should have turned the group around and never let him accompany another climb again. Age effecting endurance and strength is more about the individual themselves. He did not look very fit. He looked like an older man who enjoyed *hiking* , not mountaineering / climbing. I’m confused why there was such emphasis on firewood or a fire pit, when most climbers and even regular hikers don’t rely on firewood anymore. I would never go on even a day hike without some emergency fuel tablets in my pack, if not my propane stovetop and a mini tank. Especially if I’m climbing above the tree line, there IS no firewood or tinder to be found, shit is just ice, scree and rocks up there. If he was low enough on the mountain to even be able to collect firewood, why would he have so much trouble descending, and tbh why wouldn’t he stay out and wait for them to make contact or for SAR to reach him? The suggestion he fell into a crevasse when he wouldn’t even be near the areas that would be glaciated doesn’t seem to make sense. I did find it interesting that early on you mentioned he was left on the slope, and that when they first checked the slope looked like clean untouched snow, with no trace of the camp they had left him at. Look at the topography of the spot he was left at. He very likely got hit by an avalanche and was buried under there, snowfall will certainly bury you a good bit but zero trace? Sounds like the slope he was at the base of had an avalanche that first night he was alone. Not that much of a mystery. And I’m not sure why the Bermuda Triangle was thrown into the title lmao

[@jesseb5076]

You have not watched or listened at all ‘ You have just put the blame on him . It says that several members said the home turned into a race and they did the wrong thing. Everyone that talks about him says he was a good team mate and responsible. Seems very different to yours and you didn’t know him . Don’t assume , you just told someone else they made a huge assumption yet the only huge one being made is you !

[@Chaos_God_of_Fate]

Ignorant.

[@charliekezza]

The only Bermuda triangle is above 8000feet and that's just because both take the dead forever.