Green Boots of Mount Everest: The Tragic Legend of a Climber Lost to the Himalayas

“Green Boots” is the chilling nickname given to the preserved body of a climber on the northern face of Mount Everest. Believed by many to be Tsewang Paljor, an Indian mountaineer who perished during the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, this anonymous figure became one of the most infamous landmarks along the climb to the summit.

Wearing bright green Koflach boots, the body rested for years in a limestone alcove at around 27,890 feet (8,500 meters), symbolizing both the allure and the deadly peril of the world’s tallest mountain.

Who Was Green Boots?

The Most Likely Identity: Tsewang Paljor

Paljor was part of a three-man Indian expedition team attempting to summit Everest on May 10–11, 1996, the same period as one of Everest’s deadliest disasters. While no official confirmation exists, Paljor’s distinctive green boots match the ones found on the body, lending weight to this theory.

Alternative Theory: Dorje Morup

Another climber from the same expedition, Dorje Morup, was also last seen in green boots. Some believe he may actually be the body that became known as Green Boots. Unfortunately, due to the extreme altitude and decades of exposure, definitive identification remains impossible.

Why Was Green Boots Left on Everest?

Preservation by the Mountain

Mount Everest’s “death zone”—altitudes above 26,000 feet—features such low oxygen and freezing temperatures that bodies are often naturally preserved. With over 200 bodies still on the mountain today, removing them is a logistical and physical nightmare.

Climbers often have to step over or around bodies, with Green Boots becoming a grim waypoint for those using the northeast ridge route from Tibet.

Green Boots’ Removal in 2014

In 2014, Chinese climbers quietly removed Green Boots from his resting spot. The reasons remain unclear, but there are a few likely explanations:

• Respect for the deceased: Removing the body may have been seen as a dignified act.
• Reducing trauma for climbers: Many trekkers found the visible remains emotionally distressing.
• Route safety: The position of the body near a narrow passage could have posed a physical hazard.

To this day, the final location of Green Boots’ remains is unknown.

Mount Everest Death Toll: Sobering Statistics

• Estimated deaths: Between 310 to 330 climbers have died on Everest as of 2024.
• Bodies remaining: Over 200 bodies still remain on the mountain due to removal difficulties.
• Most fatalities occur in the “death zone”, where oxygen levels are insufficient to support life for long.

Green Boots: Symbol of Everest’s Deadly Price

For years, Green Boots was more than just a body—he became a symbol of the risks climbers take to reach the top of the world. His presence inspired ethical debates within the mountaineering community:

• Should fallen climbers be left where they died?
• Is it respectful to use their remains as landmarks?
• At what cost—physical and financial—should recovery be attempted?

Further Reading & Reliable Sources

If you’re looking to learn more about Green Boots and the dangers of climbing Everest, check out:

• “The Climb” by Anatoli Boukreev – First-hand account of the 1996 disaster.
• “Left for Dead” by Beck Weathers – A survivor’s story from the same tragedy.
• Articles by BBC, The New York Times, and National Geographic offer credible insights into Everest fatalities and the identity of Green Boots.

Final Thoughts

Green Boots of Mount Everest is more than a tragic tale—it’s a stark reminder of the dangers that lie above the clouds. Whether he was Tsewang Paljor or Dorje Morup, his story highlights the thin line between human ambition and nature’s unforgiving power.