Boyan Petrov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boyan Petrov
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![]() During the presentation of his book "The First Seven", February 6, 2017.
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Born | |
Disappeared | 5 May 2018 (aged 45) Shishapangma, Tibet, China |
Status | Missing for 7 years, 1 month and 3 days |
Nationality | Bulgarian |
Occupation | Mountaineer, zoologist |
Known for | Climbing 10 out of the 14 eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen |
Boyan Petrov (Bulgarian: Боян Петров) was a famous Bulgarian mountaineer and zoologist. He was born on February 7, 1973. Boyan worked at the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia.
He was married to Radoslava Nenova. They had a child named Yavor Petrov. Boyan was known for his amazing climbing skills. He climbed very tall mountains without extra oxygen.
At the time he went missing, Boyan had climbed 10 of the 14 highest mountains in the world. These mountains are called eight-thousanders because they are over 8,000 meters (about 26,247 feet) tall. He climbed all of them without using extra oxygen. This was a huge achievement. He was the first Bulgarian to reach the top of four of these giant mountains. These were Gasherbrum I (in 2009), Kangchenjunga (in 2014), K2 (in 2014), and Manaslu (in 2015).
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Boyan's Amazing Climbs
Boyan Petrov achieved many incredible things. On May 20, 2014, he became the first Bulgarian to climb Kangchenjunga. This is the third highest mountain on Earth, standing at 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). He was also the first person with diabetes to climb so high without extra oxygen.
Just a few months later, on July 23, he climbed Broad Peak (8,047 meters or 26,401 feet). Then, on July 31, 2014, he made history again. He became the first Bulgarian to climb K2, the second highest mountain in the world. K2 is 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) tall.
Climbing three eight-thousanders in less than 100 days was a huge feat. Boyan also set a world record by climbing Broad Peak and K2 in just 8 days! The famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner even sent him a video message. Boyan made a film about his climbs called "3x8000." It was shown on Bulgarian National Television. In 2017, he also reached the top of Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters or 26,795 feet) without oxygen.
Overcoming Challenges
Boyan Petrov faced many challenges in his life. He had survived cancer. He also lived with diabetes. This meant his body had to work harder to climb.
He had some serious accidents too. In 2008, he broke his leg while climbing in the Alps. In 2009, he fell into a deep crack in the ice, called a crevasse, on Gasherbrum II. Luckily, Spanish climbers saved him. In 2013, he broke his leg again in a car accident.
Despite these injuries, Boyan kept climbing. The very next year, he climbed Kangchenjunga, Broad Peak, and K2. He even had metal plates in his leg from the surgery. After climbing K2, he had a serious low blood sugar event. This is called a hypoglycemic crisis. He passed out at base camp but Polish climbers helped him recover.
His Disappearance
Boyan Petrov was reported missing on May 5, 2018. He was climbing Shishapangma in the Himalayas. This mountain is 8,027 meters (26,335 feet) tall. The search for him continued until May 16, but he was not found. Other climbers believe he might have fallen into a crevasse on his way to the top.
Mountains Boyan Climbed
Boyan Petrov climbed many high peaks. Here is a list of some of his ascents:
Year | Peak | Height | Mountain | State | Notes |
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2001 | Broad Peak | 8047 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
Altitude reached 7300 m |
2003 | Lenin Peak | 7134 m | Pamir | ![]() |
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2004 | Aconcagua | 6962 m | Andes | ![]() |
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2004 | Denali | 6195 m | American Cordillera | ![]() |
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2005 | K2 | 8611 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
Altitude reached 8200 m |
2007 | Khan Tengri | 6995 m | Tian Shan | ![]() |
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2009 | Gasherbrum I | 8080 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
First Bulgarian ascent. Without oxygen |
2009 | Gasherbrum II | 8035 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
Altitude reached 8030 m |
2010 | Peak Korzhenevskaya | 7105 m | Pamir | ![]() |
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2010 | Ismoil Somoni Peak | 7495 m | Pamir | ![]() |
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2014 | Kangchenjunga | 8586 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
First Bulgarian ascent. Without oxygen |
2014 | Broad Peak | 8047 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2014 | K2 | 8611 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
First Bulgarian ascent. Without oxygen |
2015 | Manaslu | 8163 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
First Bulgarian ascent. Without oxygen |
2016 | Annapurna I | 8091 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2016 | Makalu | 8485 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2016 | Nanga Parbat | 8126 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2017 | Gasherbrum II | 8035 m | Karakoram | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2017 | Dhaulagiri | 8167 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
Without oxygen |
2018 | Shishapangma | 8027 m | Himalayas | ![]() |
Reached Camp 3 at 7,500 m before disappearing |
Eight-thousanders climbed.
Source:
See also
- Hristo Prodanov
- List of deaths on eight-thousanders
- List of people who disappeared