Green Boots of Everest: Body May Finally Be Recovered After 30 Years

“The body, named for its green Koflach boots, has served as a landmark for climbers on the north-east ridge route for three decades.”

Indian authorities have released a tender seeking bids to retrieve the remains of the climber known as 'Green Boots' from a limestone cave near the summit of Mount Everest, correcting a long-standing case of mistaken identity in the process.

The official document identifies the climber as Dorje Morup, not Tsewang Paljor as previously speculated for nearly 30 years. Both were Indian climbers who tragically died during the infamous blizzard of May 10, 1996.

A Recovery Mission in Extreme Conditions

The tender specifies daunting requirements for the recovery team: it must include at least six Sherpas who have summited Everest multiple times. The body must be transported to Delhi by October.

Recovery efforts above 8,000 meters—the "death zone"—are extraordinarily hazardous due to low oxygen levels and treacherous terrain. A frozen body can weigh up to 200 kg, and limbs may need to be amputated to facilitate removal.

Sherpa Tshiring Jangbu described the work as "physically and emotionally demanding."

The Cost of Closure

About 200 bodies remain scattered across Everest's slopes. The recovery mission is expected to cost approximately $150,000 and could take 40 days to complete.

Questions of Identity

The identity change has raised questions within the mountaineering community. Mountaineer Alan Arnette noted that the shift was unexpected. While the tender document states that Morup's identification was confirmed through a prior verification process, no further details have been provided.

— Based on reporting from multiple sources.