Hristo Prodanov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hristo Prodanov
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| Born | 24 February 1943 |
| Disappeared | 21 April 1984 (aged 41) Mount Everest |
| Status | Missing for 41 years, 2 months and 7 days |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Occupation | mountaineer |
| Known for | Being the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest |
Hristo Ivanov Prodanov (Bulgarian: Христо Иванов Проданов; born February 24, 1943 – disappeared April 21, 1984) was a brave Bulgarian mountaineer. He is famous for being the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest.
He achieved this amazing feat in a very challenging way. He climbed alone, without using extra oxygen. He also took the difficult West Ridge route. Prodanov was the first person ever to reach the top of Everest in April. This month usually has very bad weather for climbing. He was also the thirteenth person to climb Everest without bottled oxygen. Sadly, he disappeared during his descent from the summit. His body was never found.
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Becoming a Mountaineer
Hristo Prodanov started climbing mountains when he was still a student. He loved the challenge of high peaks. In 1976, he began working as an engineer in a company that made metals.
His first big climb above 7,000 meters (about 23,000 feet) was on August 6, 1967. He climbed Lenin Peak. Before this, he had already climbed several peaks in the Alps, a famous mountain range in Europe.
Major Climbs and Achievements
Prodanov had many important successes in his climbing career. These included expeditions to the Hindu Kush mountains in 1976 and to Lhotse.
In 1981, he became the first Bulgarian to climb Lhotse. Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain in the world. He did this climb without using any extra oxygen.
Mount Everest Ascent
His most famous climb was Mount Everest. He reached the summit on April 20, 1984, at 6:15 PM local time. He climbed alone and without oxygen. This was a huge achievement.
After reaching the top, he had to climb down in the dark. He got lost shortly after starting his descent. The next afternoon, he reported that he had lost his gloves. He said he would soon be unable to hold his radio button to talk. He was never seen again.
Other High Peaks
Hristo Prodanov climbed many other very high mountains.
8000-meter Peaks
- Lhotse (8,516 meters or 27,940 feet) - April 30, 1981, solo, without oxygen.
- Everest (8,848 meters or 29,029 feet) - April 20, 1984, solo, without oxygen.
7000-meter Peaks
- Lenin Peak (7,134 meters or 23,406 feet) - He climbed this peak several times, starting in 1975.
- Ismail Samani Peak (7,495 meters or 24,590 feet) - Climbed in 1980 and 1983. This peak was once called Communism Peak.
- Peak Korzhenevskaya (7,105 meters or 23,310 feet) - Climbed several times, starting in 1979.
- Noshaq (7,492 meters or 24,580 feet) - Climbed in 1976.
Climbs in the Alps
- North face of Matterhorn (4,471 meters or 14,669 feet) - Climbed in 1974.
- North face of Grand Jorasses on the Walker Spur (4,208 meters or 13,806 feet) - Climbed in 1967.
- Petit Dru (3,733 meters or 12,247 feet) - Climbed in 1967 and 1977.
- Mont Blanc (4,807 meters or 15,771 feet) - Climbed in 1969.
Climbs in the Caucasus Mountains
- Pillar of Ushba - Climbed in 1970.
- Traverse in Shkhelda (4,320 meters or 14,173 feet) - Climbed in 1973.
Awards and Recognition
Hristo Prodanov received several important awards for his climbing achievements:
- He was named the No. 1 Bulgarian Mountaineer for the 20th century.
- He received the "Hero of People's Republic of Bulgaria" award in 1984, after his death.
- He was given the "Georgi Dimitrov" order in 1981 and again in 1984 (after his death).
- He also received the "People's Republic of Bulgaria", second class award in 1977.
Family Legacy
Hristo Prodanov's niece, Mariana Prodanova Maslarova, also loved climbing. She tried to climb Mount Everest without extra oxygen on the 20th anniversary of her uncle's disappearance. Sadly, she also died during her attempt at a very high altitude.
See also
- List of 20th-century summiters of Mount Everest
- List of people who disappeared
