Hristo Prodanov

Hristo Prodanov (February 24 1943 - April 20 1984) was a Bulgarian mountaineer. He was the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest but died on the way back.

Prodanov was still a student when he became involved in mountaineering. He began work as a metallurgical engineer in "Kremikovtsi" in 1976.

Prodanov had his first 7000m ascent on August 6 1967 when he climbed Lenin Peak. He had previously climbed several peaks in the Alps.

His major successes were related to Hindu Kush (1976) and Lhotse. In 1981, he was the first Bulgarian to climb Lhotse.

Climbs

8000m ascents

• Lhotse (8516m) - April 30 1981, solo, without oxygen
• Everest (8850m) - April 20 1984, solo, without oxygen

7000m ascents

• Lenin Peak (7134m) - August 6 1975, July 28 1982, August 5 1982, July 13 1983, August 2 1983
• Communism Peak, today known as Ismail Samani Peak (7495) - July 27 1980, July 24 1983
• Korzhenevski Peak (7105m) - July 28 1979, July 31 1979, August 8 1982, July 29 1983
• Noshaq (7492) - July 30 1976

Alps

• North face of Matterhorn (4471m) - September 21-26 1974, together with Trifon Djambazov
• North face of Grand Jorasses on the Walker Spur (4208m) - July 30 August 1 1967, together with Atanas Kovandzhiev
• Petit Dru (3733m), Bonatti route - July 16-18; "Route of Guides" - September 3-8 1977
• Mont Blanc (4807m), Freney Pillar - July 15-16 1969

Caucasus

• Pillar of Ushba - July 25-28 1970
• Traverse in Shkhelda (4320m) - July 24-August 1 1973

Awards

Prodanov received several awards, including:

• "Georgi Dimitrov" order (1981; 1984 - posthumously)
• "People's Republic of Bulgaria", second class (1977)
• "Hero of People's Republic of Bulgaria" (1984 - posthumously)
• No. 1 Bulgarian Mountaineer for the 20th century.

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