I don’t necessarily think they ALL went out to investigate something. Some of them very well might have slept through the original phenomena. I’m more inclined to think that one or more went out for whatever reason, maybe to investigate something, and it was their cries for help, due to being lost (or having a fractured skull), that woke the others up. They in turn may have gone out to try and help and due to the weather, got lost too. I don’t think it can be said for sure yet that all of them went out together at the same time. Even if they went out at separate times, the would-be rescuers would be headed towards the cries for help, the footprints would overlap, and it might give the impression that the group moved as a whole.

I have to admit that I really don’t know all that much about ball lightning, so I can’t say for sure if what was reported was consistent with this phenomenon. I do know that not even experts fully understand ball lightning, so who knows? It could have been some other sort of atmospheric phenomena too, I guess. I’m thinking more and more that whatever it was, you’re right and that it would have to be something pretty major to get even one of them to leave the warmth and safety of their tent to go out in that weather.

Without shoes though? Could the shoes have been lost in the snow somehow? Those shoes, those shoes!

Reread the newspaper article and the Wiki link.

To answer some of my own questions…..There was a snowstorm going on. The group did not scatter but did hurriedly move towards the trees.

Orange lights were seen from 50 kilometers. Not consistent with ball lightening ?

With the weather conditions the group could have been lost a few meters away from the tent.

The group had to sense something that caused them to leave the tent. It would take a very bright light, very loud sound or vibrations to be noticed in a snowstorm, inside a tent by probably sleeping occupants. Ruling out smell and taste as simply unlikely.

Conclusion: An inter-dimensional being of some type entered the tent while existing in an adjacent dimension. Once inside the tent, it took on a form that caused the occupants to fear for their lives. The tent was not tall so we can rule out a tall being. A glowing orb may have been sufficient to cause the occupants to fear for their lives. The occupants then cut the tent to escape a perceived threat that was inside the tent. The threat apparently continued to pursue the campers for 1.5 kilometers across snow that leaves footprints, but it apparently left no footprints. Orbs leave no footprints. Beings that exist in dimensions at least twice removed from ours, also leave no footprints. Some cow mutilations have had tongues removed. We can safely assume that this threat also has the ability to perform cow mutilations. Cow mutilations have not been witnessed, but have occurred in close proximity while man was present (Hunt for the Skinwalker). Blunt force trauma, may occur after death and leave no external injuries when the striking instrument was relatively soft, like a strong hand. So the malevolent inter-dimensional orb likely has a three dimensional form that contained appendages that could deliver powerful blows, perhaps while remaining invisible in another dimension. An inter-dimensional reptilian with an orb phase, comes to mind.

Sorry I’m posting so much on this. I love this kind of stuff.

I’d also like to know if it is certain that the fire and evidence of the tree being climbed correspond to when the incident actually happened. Maybe they made the fire a few hours before hand? Same with the tree? I’ve been getting a nagging feeling that they could very well have happened sometime before and thus would not be pertinent to whatever happened to these people. I’m thinking the proximity of the tree and fire to the bodies pretty much allows us to somewhat assume they were, but I just don’t know for sure. If it is pertinent then the fire really gives me pause about the idea that they all freaked out and fled the camp, as I do not believe they would have had the presence of mind to stop on the camp’s periphery and build a fire in that situation. I’ve also been considering the scenario that the man with the non-lethal fractured skull could have gotten the injury from falling from the tree after trying to locate camp. Also, the ball lightning could have happened and contributed to the disorientation everyone had as well as leaving the residue of radiation. This is all complete speculation of course, I’m just throwing ideas out. I’m aware I could be way off.

The unpreparedness is really one of the biggest enigmas for me here. I can understand that a few might have popped out in minimal clothing because they did not expect to be outside long, but the whole group? That none of them had the presence of mind to put on shoes in freezing temperatures, regardless of the urgency they felt, is very perplexing to me.

You are right about the fire being a very pertinent clue.

If fleeing the area due to a human or animal threat lingering in the area would not be likely. Fire acts as a beacon at night and would alert any type of pursuer exactly where the group was.

I do not believe the group ever felt theatened by any type of animal nor do I feel they had any lingering sense of danger.

I’d very much like to know what the tracks indicated upon exiting the tent. Did they huddle together until all were out and then walk or did they bolt out running. Did they scatter or stay together? Where was the knife that cut the tent open found? Was the knife left in the tent or taken along?
Light conditions? Had the snow storm ceased with clear skies and a full moon? Cloud cover,snowing & no moonlight?

Absolutely agree the tree was climbed to locate the tent.

The core question is why did the group leave the tent unprepared?