On April 30, 1981, Hristo Prodanov achieved a significant mountaineering milestone with his ascent of Lhotse, the Himalayan peak at 8,516 meters. This climb marked the 45th anniversary of the achievement. Prodanov became the first Bulgarian to summit an eight-thousander and the fourth person worldwide to reach the peak without supplemental oxygen.
Prodanov was part of the “Himalayas 81,” a Bulgarian national expedition organized to commemorate the 1,300th anniversary of the Bulgarian State. The expedition navigated a challenging route, traversing the Khumbu Icefall and establishing intermediate camps up to Camp 4, situated within the ‘death zone.’
The final ascent began on April 30. After overcoming severe weather, including strong winds and snowfall, Prodanov proceeded to the summit, reaching the peak at 1:55 p.m.
He planted the Bulgarian tricolor flag and left a capsule containing soil from his homeland. Following his ascent, Prodanov successfully managed the difficult descent, enduring challenging conditions. His teammates, Metodi Savov and Ognyan Baldzhiiski, also completed their ascent and descent.
The entire Bulgarian expedition eventually returned safely to base camp. Prodanov’s accomplishment was noted for establishing a significant precedent for Bulgarian mountaineering achievements in the high Himalayas.
Topics: #bulgarian #prodanov #first
