The 45th anniversary marks the ascent of Lhotse, the Himalayan peak at 8,516 meters, achieved by Hristo Prodanov. On April 30, 1981, Prodanov became the first Bulgarian to summit an eight-thousander and the fourth person globally to reach the summit without supplemental oxygen. Prodanov led a Bulgarian national expedition toward the goal, which was part of a larger effort commemorating the 1,300th anniversary of the Bulgarian State.
The climb involved establishing intermediate camps across treacherous terrain, culminating in Camp 4 within the ‘death zone.’
The decisive ascent began on April 30. Prodanov initiated the final push without oxygen, followed later by teammates Metodi Savov and Ognyan Baldzhiiski. Despite rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, including strong winds and snowfall, Prodanov navigated the challenging route.
He reached the summit at 1:55 p.m., planting the Bulgarian flag. After securing the summit, Prodanov successfully managed the difficult descent, navigating hazardous conditions. His teammates followed, though communication was intermittent.
The entire expedition safely returned to base camp by May 2, 1981. Prodanov’s achievement remains a significant milestone in Bulgarian mountaineering history, solidifying his place in high-altitude climbing records.
Topics: #bulgarian #prodanov #first
What an incredible feat of endurance and history for Bulgarian mountaineering.