Chumming with the Spirits

Happy Halloween Chumming Crew!! On this weeks episode, in celebration for the Halloween festivities, we dive into the mother of modern Monster stories. That's right! Join us as we talk about Mary Shelley and her novel Frankenstein. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein (titled Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus) at age 18 during a rainy summer in 1816 at Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. Origins & Publication • The Ghost Story Challenge: Lord Byron challenged Mary, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Polidori to write a scary story during the gloomy "Year Without a Summer" caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora. • The Inspiration: Mary conceived the core idea through a waking nightmare about a pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. • Publication: The novel was first published anonymously in London on January 1, 1818, when Mary Shelley was 20 years old. An expanded, revised edition under her own name was published in 1831. Core Themes • Scientific Ambition: The dangers of unchecked hubris and playing god through science and galvanism. • Alienation & Rejection: The tragic consequences of society and a creator abandoning a sentient, lonely creature. • Responsibility: The moral duty a creator owes to what they bring into existence.

The Dyatlov Pass incident occurred on the night of February 1–2, 1959, when nine experienced Soviet ski hikers died under mysterious circumstances on the slopes of Kholat Syakhl in the Ural Mountains. Overview of the Event • The Group: Led by 23-year-old Igor Dyatlov, the team of ten students and graduates from the Ural Polytechnical Institute set out on a challenging cross-country skiing expedition. One member, Yuri Yudin, turned back earlier due to illness, leaving nine who continued. • The Campsite: On February 1, the group pitched their tent on the exposed eastern slope of Kholat Syakhl (translating to "Dead Mountain"). • The Abandonment: Sometime during the night, something forced the hikers to cut their way out of their tent from the inside and flee into a sub-zero blizzard (-40°C/-40°F) without proper winter clothing, coats, or boots. Discovery and Injuries • The Search: After failing to return a scheduled telegram by mid-February, a massive search party was launched and found the abandoned, snow-covered tent on February 26. • First Bodies: Searchers found the first two bodies (Yuri Krivonischenko and Yuri Doroshenko) near a large cedar tree about a mile away, shoeless and near the remnants of a small fire. Three more bodies, including Igor Dyatlov, were found scattered between the tree and the tent, appearing to have died trying to return to camp. • The Ravine Bodies: In May, as the snow melted, the remaining four bodies were discovered deeper in a ravine under heavy snow, bearing severe physical trauma—such as crushed chests and fractured skulls—comparable to the force of a severe car crash. One hiker was missing her tongue and eyes. Official Investigations and Leading Theories • Soviet Investigation: The original 1959 Soviet investigation concluded that the group died from an "unknown compelling force," abruptly closing the case. • The Slab Avalanche Theory: A reinvestigation by Russian authorities, supported by modern computer modeling (such as studies published in Communications Earth & Environment), pointed to a small, delayed slab avalanche triggered by the slope cut the hikers made to pitch their tent, compounded by high winds. This explains the panicked cutting of the tent, the rapid retreat, and the severe impact injuries sustained when some fell into the ravine. • Alternative Explanations: Over 75 theories have been proposed over the decades, ranging from severe katabatic winds and infrasound-induced panic to military/parachute experiments. Missing soft tissue on some bodies was attributed to natural decomposition and scavenging animals, while trace radiation on clothing was linked to prior industrial/nuclear work experience.

The Catacombs of Paris stand as the world's largest underground ossuary, holding the macabre and meticulously arranged remains of over six million people. Located 20 meters beneath the streets of the 14th arrondissement, this 1.5-kilometer subterranean labyrinth was adapted from former medieval limestone quarries to resolve a critical public health crisis in the late 18th century. Following a multi-million euro renovation, the site features modern soundscapes and enhanced historical exhibitions, including a temporary showcase on legendary photographer Nadar. In the late 1700s, Paris's city cemeteries—most notably the Cemetery of the Innocents—grew so severely overcrowded that they caused toxic odors and structural collapses, threatening public health. To resolve this, King Louis XVI's government orchestrated a massive, nightly effort to exhume millions of skeletons and transfer them into the city's abandoned network of stone mines. While initially a chaotic repository, the tunnels were later transformed by quarry inspector Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury into an orderly, public exhibition. He had the bones carefully stacked into walls of skulls and tibias. Prominent French historical figures, including Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and scientist Antoine Lavoisier, were among those moved to the ossuary during the chaotic heights of the French Revolution. If you are planning to experience the Catacombs firsthand, the entry system is highly rigid and requires strict preparation. • Mandatory Reservations: Tickets are only available online via the Official Catacombs Ticket Portal. They are released on a rolling 7-day window and sell out almost instantly. Spontaneous, walk-up entry is not possible. • 2026 Ticket Pricing: Full-fare tickets cost 31€, reduced entry is 25€, and youth tickets (ages 8–17) are 15€. Children under 7 enter for free. All paid rates include an updated, highly rated multilingual audio guide. • Physical Demands: The tour requires descending 131 spiral stairs and climbing 112 stairs back up to the street. There are no elevators, making the site entirely inaccessible to wheelchairs and strollers. • Environment & Restrictions: The tunnels maintain a constant, damp chill of 14°C (57°F) year-round. You must bring a jacket and wear sturdy walking shoes. Luggage and large backpacks are banned, as bags must be smaller than 40x30x20cm. ⚠️ The Catacombes Extérieures (The Illegal Underground) The official tourist route represents less than 1% of the estimated 200+ miles of total tunnels twisting under Paris. The vast majority of the network is completely closed to the general public, illegal to enter, and patrolled by a specialized police force. A tight-knit local subculture of urban explorers, known as cataphiles, frequently navigate these illegal sectors through hidden utility shafts. However, trying to explore these unofficial zones is incredibly dangerous. The maze-like network has no cell phone service, parts are completely flooded, and deceptive navigation markers left by bad actors can easily leave unauthorized explorers permanently trapped or lost in the dark.

Join us for the finale of the conversation about alien abductions and the stigma that follows them with our friend and colleague Carter Buschardt. You don't want to miss this riveting conclusion.

Join us as we continue our discussion on alien abductions and ufo appearances with our friend and colleague Carter Buschardt. He continues to talk to us about his encounters with extra terrestrials and his time during abductions.