Atanas Skatov

Atanas Georgiev Skatov (Атанас Георгиев Скатов; 11 March 1978 – 5 February 2021) was a Bulgarian mountaineer, vegan and agronomist in plant protection.

Biography
Born in Sliven, Bulgaria, Skatov graduated in 2001 from the Agricultural University of Plovdiv and held a master's degree in plant protection. In February 2005, he received a doctoral degree in Agricultural Science. Skatov has since published scientific articles in Bulgaria and abroad.

Skatov became a vegan in January 2012. He claimed that he had never been on a mountain until 2010 and had not been an active sports person before 2012. However, he made history by becoming 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. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being the first Bulgarian climber to participate in four expeditions to climb multiple eight-thousanders in a single season.

In 2015, Skatov was awarded an “Honorary Citizen” of Sliven, Bulgaria. In the same year, he also published his first book and released his first documentary movie. In 2019, Skatov was awarded the 2019 Green Person of Bulgaria. 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.

Skatov died on 5 February 2021, aged 42, while descending from Camp 3 at K2 after an unsuccessful ascent.

Mountaineering career
Skatov was self-educated in the subject of climbing and mountaineering. He did not conduct preliminary research on a given peak prior to the expedition, in order to feel the spirit of the pioneers who hadn't known what to expect while climbing. In May 2014, he claimed to have become the first known vegan to ascend Everest. His attempt was later refuted, as he admitted to having consumed honey.

Skatov is the first Bulgarian who climbed Mount Everest from the north and south ridges, and in June 2017 he ascended Mount Denali in Alaska and became the first Bulgarian and the world's first vegan to successfully climb the Seven Summits.

A list of Skatov's expeditions and results are below: