Atanas Georgiev Skatov (Bulgarian: Атанас Георгиев Скатов; 11 March 1978 – 5 February 2021) was a Bulgarian mountaineer, vegan and agronomist in plant protection.
Biography
Skatov was born in Sliven, Bulgaria. In 2001, he graduated from the Agricultural University of Plovdiv and held a master's degree in plant protection. He later earned a doctorate from Humboldt University in Berlin and worked as a scientist.[1][2] Skatov later published scientific articles in Bulgaria and abroad.[3][4]
In the summer of 2010, Skatov discovered his love of the mountains while hiking a mountain trail at home in Bulgaria.[5] It sparked a drive to begin a more active lifestyle. He claimed that he had never been on a mountain until 2010 and had not been an active sports person before 2012.[6] As he began to develop his physical health, he adopted a vegan lifestyle.[7]
Mountaineering
Skatov was self-educated in the subject of climbing and mountaineering, often joining climbing expeditions as an expedition climber.[2]
In May 2014, he claimed to have become the first known vegan to ascend Everest.[8][9] His attempt was later refuted, as he admitted to having consumed honey.[10] Skatov would become the first known person on a vegan diet to successfully climb the highest summits on six continents in less than two years, including four eight – thousanders in a week apiece.
In 2015, Skatov was awarded an “Honorary Citizen” of Sliven, Bulgaria.[11] In the same year, he also published his first book[12] and released his first documentary movie.[13]
In 2017, Skatov ascended Everest from the Nepalese south side.[7] In June 2017, he ascended Mount Denali in Alaska becoming the first Bulgarian and the world's first vegan to successfully climb the Seven Summits.[14]
In 2019, Skatov was awarded the 2019 Green Person of Bulgaria.[15] At this time, he was attempting to become the first known vegan to climb the 14 highest peaks on Earth, and had reportedly summitted 10 of them.[16]
Final climb
In 2020, Skatov was planning to climb K2 in his attempt to be the first vegan to climb all eight-thousanders. However, climbing expeditions that year were delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2020, Skatov planned a winter ascent despite K2 being one of the world's most challenging and deadly eight-thousanders. The choice of a winter ascent was especially notable as at the time, as the mountain had never been successfully ascended in winter.[2]
Skatov was described as a strong and technically competent climber, capable of making a successful winter ascent.[17] On 16 January 2021, a Nepalese team made the first successful winter of ascent of K2.[18] Roughly three weeks later, Skatov died on 5 February, aged 42, of a fall while descending from Camp 3 after an unsuccessful ascent.[19][20][21] Skatov and his sherpa began their descent after spending the night outside as there were not enough tents for the climbers on the mountain.[17]
As they began to climb down, other climbers suddenly noticed Skatov's body falling from the mountain. Initial reports cited Skatov's cause of death to be due to a broken safety rope.[22] These reports were later refuted. His cause of death was later attributed to overexertion.[23]
His body was recovered by a Pakistani military helicopter crew later that day.[24]
Legacy
Upon learning of his death, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov wrote:
"The mountain took another of our great climbers. Atanas Skatov was a brave man, a man with a cause. I express my condolences to his family and relatives. May his memory be bright!"[23]
Skatov would be one of five climbers to lose their lives on K2 during the Winter 2020 – 21 season.[25]
