site.btaSummer of 1964: First Bulgarian Traverse of Bezengi Wall in Caucasus

In the summer of 1964, Bulgarian climbers completed their first successful traverse of the Bezengi Wall in the Caucasus. The full east-to-west crossing was achieved by mountaineers Georgi Atanasov, Angel Petrov, Sandyu Beshev, and Krastyo Aleksiev.

The earliest Bulgarian attempt dates back to 1961, when eight climbers set out to traverse the ridge. The expedition ended in tragedy after three of them, Tsanko Bangiev, Yordan Machirski, and Radko Breyanov, fell to their deaths.

The Bezengi Wall consists of a chain of sharp-ridged summits, including Shkhara (5,189 m), Shota Rustaveli (4,960 m), Dzhangi-Tau (5,051 m), Katyn-Tau (4,974 m), Gistola (4,860 m), and Lyalver (4,350 m).