On April 30, 1981, Hristo Prodanov reached the summit of Lhotse, an 8,516-meter Himalayan peak. This achievement marked a significant milestone, as Prodanov became the first Bulgarian to summit an eight-thousander and the fourth person globally to reach the peak without supplemental oxygen. The ascent was undertaken by the “Himalayas 81” Bulgarian national expedition.
After establishing intermediate camps up to Camp 4 in the ‘death zone,’ the final assault began early on April 30. Despite deteriorating weather conditions, including strong winds and snowfall, Prodanov led the climb. After navigating the final stages, Prodanov reached the summit ridge and eventually stood on the peak at 1:55 p.m.
He planted the Bulgarian flag and left a capsule containing soil from his homeland. Following the summit, Prodanov began the descent, while his teammates, Metodi Savov and Ognyan Baldzhiiski, encountered equipment issues and returned to Camp 4. The expedition members successfully returned to the base camp on May 2, 1981.
The accomplishment solidified Prodanov’s place in mountaineering history. His successful climb was part of a larger effort to commemorate the 1,300th anniversary of the Bulgarian State. The event remains a notable record of Bulgarian mountaineering achievement on one of the world’s most challenging peaks.
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