John Ballen

I did something like that. And I made it. And I was like, I cannot post this. This is like the worst thing I've ever made. But nothing worked. And I remember thinking like, okay, you know, I don't have a clue what I could do that would be interesting. And actually, I remember I had these two documents in my computer. This is, again, post-deleting everything.

I did something like that. And I made it. And I was like, I cannot post this. This is like the worst thing I've ever made. But nothing worked. And I remember thinking like, okay, you know, I don't have a clue what I could do that would be interesting. And actually, I remember I had these two documents in my computer. This is, again, post-deleting everything.

I'm like trying to make it on social media with something different. I had this one document that was like ideas for content that were not SEAL-related, that were like totally divorced from that, the sketch comedy, the auto-tune, whatever it was. And I literally had exhausted all of them.

I'm like trying to make it on social media with something different. I had this one document that was like ideas for content that were not SEAL-related, that were like totally divorced from that, the sketch comedy, the auto-tune, whatever it was. And I literally had exhausted all of them.

But I had this other document that – I didn't even know why I had separated this topic, but it was – all I wrote on it was Dyatlov Pass, right? So personally, I am interested in the strange, dark, and mysterious, the tagline that's become the Mr. Ballin thing. Basically unsolved mysteries, but not like – don't think true crime necessarily. Think like world-level mysteries like – What's out there?

But I had this other document that – I didn't even know why I had separated this topic, but it was – all I wrote on it was Dyatlov Pass, right? So personally, I am interested in the strange, dark, and mysterious, the tagline that's become the Mr. Ballin thing. Basically unsolved mysteries, but not like – don't think true crime necessarily. Think like world-level mysteries like – What's out there?

Is there life out there? Like, why is this portion of Antarctica blacked out on Google Earth? Like, the deep, like, scintillating stuff that no one really has an answer to. I've always been drawn to that stuff. And there's a really famous mystery called the Dyatlov Pass.

Is there life out there? Like, why is this portion of Antarctica blacked out on Google Earth? Like, the deep, like, scintillating stuff that no one really has an answer to. I've always been drawn to that stuff. And there's a really famous mystery called the Dyatlov Pass.

And it's about these hikers in the 50s, these nine really experienced hikers who are going for their what's called their level three mountaineering test, which sounds sort of like run of the mill. But in fact, in Soviet Russia in the 1950s, this was like master mountaineer. Nobody had level three. This is like the top.

And it's about these hikers in the 50s, these nine really experienced hikers who are going for their what's called their level three mountaineering test, which sounds sort of like run of the mill. But in fact, in Soviet Russia in the 1950s, this was like master mountaineer. Nobody had level three. This is like the top.

If you did this, you're like the best climbers in the country, if not potentially the world. This is a big deal. And the way you pass your level three is you and the people taking it with you. There was nine of them. You have to map out this route through this really rugged part of whatever mountain you're going to use. They use the Ural Mountains. So big snow swept, like huge icy mountains.

If you did this, you're like the best climbers in the country, if not potentially the world. This is a big deal. And the way you pass your level three is you and the people taking it with you. There was nine of them. You have to map out this route through this really rugged part of whatever mountain you're going to use. They use the Ural Mountains. So big snow swept, like huge icy mountains.

And you map out this course that like checks the boxes of difficulty. And you're effectively timed. You have to start on a particular day and time. And they have people set up along the way, the scheduled checkpoints, if you will. And so they brought cameras with them, this group. This is, again, 1952, I think it was. And so there's these young nine hikers who were like so excited to do this test.

And you map out this course that like checks the boxes of difficulty. And you're effectively timed. You have to start on a particular day and time. And they have people set up along the way, the scheduled checkpoints, if you will. And so they brought cameras with them, this group. This is, again, 1952, I think it was. And so there's these young nine hikers who were like so excited to do this test.

No one's stressed. They're so pumped. There's a couple of couples in there. They set off on this journey. And I think they reached the first checkpoint. I forget what it is, but they didn't make it to whatever second checkpoint or whatever it was. And there was a protocol for the people who were sort of sponsoring this test that were part of the checkpoints that knew this.

No one's stressed. They're so pumped. There's a couple of couples in there. They set off on this journey. And I think they reached the first checkpoint. I forget what it is, but they didn't make it to whatever second checkpoint or whatever it was. And there was a protocol for the people who were sort of sponsoring this test that were part of the checkpoints that knew this.

They knew what was going on, where if they missed a checkpoint, there's like this big search that goes out to make sure they're okay. Even though there's some expectation that they might not make a checkpoint by like a day because it's a difficult test. Yeah. But the protocol is like really extreme.

They knew what was going on, where if they missed a checkpoint, there's like this big search that goes out to make sure they're okay. Even though there's some expectation that they might not make a checkpoint by like a day because it's a difficult test. Yeah. But the protocol is like really extreme.

As soon as they go missing, it's like the army gets involved and they go and follow the route to find the hikers. So they missed the checkpoint. This protocol is enacted. And not only are there pictures that we will get from the hikers, but there was cameras that came with the search crew. They follow the trail that they're supposed to be on. This is, again, there's no trees.

As soon as they go missing, it's like the army gets involved and they go and follow the route to find the hikers. So they missed the checkpoint. This protocol is enacted. And not only are there pictures that we will get from the hikers, but there was cameras that came with the search crew. They follow the trail that they're supposed to be on. This is, again, there's no trees.