Green Boots on Mount Everest

The bodies of climbers on Everest are notoriously difficult to evacuate because helicopters cannot reach such extreme altitudes. They remain on the mountain, serving both as landmarks and also a somber reminder to passing mountaineers of the harsh realities of high-altitude climbing, echoing the Latin phrase “memento mori”. Among these, the most famous is "Green Boots."

The term “Green Boots” became common slang among climbers after numerous expeditions from the north side encountered the body of a climber, wearing green Koflach mountaineering boots, curled up in a limestone alcove cave at 27,890 feet (8,500 meters), situated below the First Step of Mount Everest.

The first recorded video footage of "Green Boots" was captured by British filmmaker and mountaineer Matt Dickinson in May 1996. This footage was later featured in the documentary Summit Fever, narrated by Brian Blessed. The film identifies the unidentified climber as being of Indian descent, adding to the intrigue surrounding the mysterious figure on Everest’s slopes.

The identity of Green Boots remains a topic of debate, but the most widely accepted theory is that the body belongs to Tsewang Paljor.

The story of Green Boots, one of Mount Everest's most haunting figures, begins in 1996 when the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) assembled an elite group of climbers to conquer the world's highest peak. Among them was Tsewang Paljor, a 28-year-old officer from Ladakh, India, who had grown up in the shadows of the mountains.

Little did he know that 1996 would become one of Everest’s deadliest seasons, later known as the 1996 Mount Everest Disaster. During that season, twelve climbers perished, making it the deadliest season on Everest at that time.

Despite his mother's pleas for him to reconsider, Paljor was determined to join the expedition. However, he kept the true destination a secret from his family, hoping to fulfill a lifelong dream and earn some money.

Photo of Tsewang Paljor

On May 10, 1996, Subedar Tsewang Samanla, Lance Naik Dorje Morup, and Head Constable Tsewang Paljor faced a critical decision as they neared the summit of Mount Everest.

The team was caught in a blizzard above Camp IV. While three of the six members turned back, Samanla, Paljor, and Morup decided to continue their ascent to the summit.

The trio reached the summit late in the day, around 18:00 Nepal Time, a risky move that left them with limited daylight for their descent. They left offerings of prayer flags, khatas, and pitons. Samanla decided to perform additional religious ceremonies and instructed Morup and Paljor to start their descent. Back at the lower camps, team members observed two headlamps moving above the Second Step at 8,570 meters (28,117 feet). Unfortunately, none of the three climbers returned to the high camp at 8,300 meters (27,231 feet).

Photo of "Green Boots" taken in May 2010

As they began their descent, they were engulfed by the blizzard, which brought extreme cold, high winds, and poor visibility. These severe weather conditions rendered navigation and safe descent nearly impossible, leading to hypothermia and exhaustion. Tragically, they were unable to find their way back to Camp IV and succumbed to the harsh conditions. When exactly the 3 members died we will never know. The deaths of Samanla, Morup, and Paljor sparked widespread debate over the commercialization of Everest and the ethical responsibilities of climbers.

Tsewang Paljor’s body, in particular, became widely known as “Green Boots” due to his distinctive green Koflach climbing boots.

Until the body was moved, likely by the China Tibet Mountaineering Association in 2014, it served as a macabre waypoint for climbers attempting the summit.

However, some argue that the body could be that of Dorje Morup, another ITBP climber who was part of the same expedition. In a 1997 article titled "The Indian Ascent of Qomolungma by the North Ridge," P.M. Das suggested that Morup was the climber seen struggling on the descent. He was last spotted moving slowly between the First and Second Steps, battling frostbite and finding it difficult to unclip his safety carabiners. Despite assistance from a Japanese team, Morup succumbed to the extreme conditions, believed to have died on the afternoon of May 11. His body, found near Camp 6, was initially identified as Tsewang Paljor’s, but Das’s account casts doubt on this theory.

Photo of Dorje Morup

The mystery surrounding these climbers deepened further in 2006 when British mountaineer David Sharp was found in a hypothermic state in Green Boots' Cave by climber Mark Inglis and his party. Despite radioing for help, Inglis continued his ascent, and Sharp died from extreme cold a few hours later. Approximately three dozen other climbers passed by Sharp that day, many mistaking him for the body of Green Boots. Sharp’s death reignited debates about the ethics of climbing Everest, highlighting the risks and moral dilemmas that climbers face in the Death Zone.

These tragic tales underscore the perilous reality of Everest, where ambition can easily turn to tragedy. The area known as Rainbow Valley, located just below the summit on the northern ridge, serves as a stark reminder of this danger. Contrary to its whimsical name, Rainbow Valley is a graveyard for climbers who perished on the mountain, often still clad in their brightly colored gear. The vivid jackets and suits scattered among the snow and ice give the valley its name, creating a haunting contrast against the harsh landscape.

Rainbow Valley lies within the infamous Death Zone, which refers to altitudes above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), where oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for extended periods. Here, climbers face not just physical challenges but also extreme weather, avalanches, and the constant threat of frostbite and hypothermia. The bodies that remain are a silent testament to the deadly nature of Everest’s unforgiving environment.

As famed mountaineer Reinhold Messner once said, “Mountains are not fair or unfair—they are dangerous.” Everest is no exception. Its allure is undeniable, drawing climbers from all corners of the globe, but the risks are ever-present. Those who dare to face the mountain must ask themselves: Is it worth endangering your life for a moment of glory? If you decide to take on this ultimate challenge, preparation and respect for the mountain are your best allies in surviving the world’s highest peak.