Who is a Green Boots on the Everest?

Green Boots Everest gained notoriety after the mountaineers found a body on Everest. Many bodies still fill the crevasses of Everest. That’s the dark truth about the world’s tallest peak.

The story of Green Boots Everest has layers of emotions. Any mountaineer knows about the tale. What eludes many, even to this day, is who the green-booted figure is. The debate on his identity remains fresh.

Green Boots is a warning to those who wish to summit Everest. It is a reminder frozen in time. And the warning goes: climbing Everest needs extreme alertness and care. 

Who was Green Boots Everest?

Green Boots Everest was one of the three members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Among his teammates, Green Boots was known for his love for mountains. As for who the man is, many believe he was the late Tsewang Paljor.

Green Boots was born on April 10, 1968, in Sakti, India. Paljor grew up in the mountainous Ladakh. Tsewang loved the mountain range. Later, he’d join the border police near the Indo-Tibet border.

Tsewang would then spend most of his adulthood near the India-China border. Moreover, the 3,488 km (2,167 miles) border is mostly located at a high altitude. Paljor was a head constable in the border police.

From his military service, Green Boots received enough training to scale Mount Everest.

The love for mountaineering inevitably brings one to the highest peaks. Tsewang and his team climbed Everest on the disastrous date of May 10, 1996. It would be the last time anyone sees Paljor.

How did he get the Green Boot name? 

The title Green Boot itself is a controversial topic. After the 1996 Everest Disaster, climbers dubbed the body Green Boots. The striking neon green boots were the first thing one would see.

From afar, the green Koflach boots are visible. Following the footwear, climbers discovered the body. Green Boots was seen making his descent from Everest. But for him, it became the place for eternal rest. 

After discovering a body with green shoes, they began calling it Green Boots. Similarly, climbers found the body in a limestone alcove. Later, the cave started being called Green Boots Cave. 

It’s still not confirmed who the guy is. As such, identifying the man wearing the boots remains a controversial topic. Yes, after almost three decades, we still don’t know for sure who Green Boots is.

Green Boots Identity: Tsewang Paljor or Dorge Morup?

Green Boots is widely believed to be Tsewang Paljor. But according to an article by a senior deputy leader of the team, the green boots belong to Dorge. In the piece, “The Indian Ascent of Qomolungma by the North Ridge,” the author shared his theory. 

The author states that fellow Japanese climbers found Dorge twice on their way to the summit. Morup was found between the First and Second Steps. And according to the Japanese team, Dorge was making his descent slowly. 

Later, after summiting, the Japanese team would meet Dorge Morup below the First Step. They assumed Morup could make it back on his own. As such, they left him to his own devices. The Indian mountaineer died shortly after his encounter with the Japanese team.

In the article, the author mentioned that Tsewang Paljor was seen in a delirious state. The Japanese team saw the man between the First Step and the Second Step. Likewise, in his theory, P.M. Das wrote, “Paljor probably slipped and fell off a cliff on the Eastern side of Everest.”

How did Green Boots die?

Green Boots is one of the unlucky mountaineers of the 1996 Everest Disaster. The harsh nature of Everest claimed the Green Boots’ life. But it wasn’t just the climate that took Tsewang Paljor’s life during the Everest expedition. 

As the article authored by P.M. Das states, Tsewang was spotted in a delirious state. The fight to summit Everest exhausted Green Boots. Aside from physical exhaustion, it put a strain on his mind. 

Green Boots survived the blizzard on May 10, 1996. Yet making it out from the aftermath of the storm took his life. The extreme temperatures and environment pushed his body to absolute limits. 

Green Boots succumbed to harsh conditions on Everest. His final moments were at an elevation of 8,500 meters. Tsewang died taking shelter in a small limestone alcove.

Was Everest Green Boots' face shown to the world?

No, the face of Everest Green Boots remains hidden. But a British filmmaker, Matt Dickinson, filmed the first footage of the iconic Green Boots. The video clip shows the final resting place of Tsewang.

Where is Green Boots on Everest?

Green Boots’ final resting place on Everest is at the Northeastern ridge. People ascending from the Tibetan side take the Northeast route. Green Boots became an unofficial landmark for any scaling from that side.

The altitude where Tsewang Paljor takes his eternal fall under the death zone. The place is as ominous as the name. The extremely low oxygen levels and the sub-zero temperatures eat away at a climber’s body. Paljor’s resting place is also called the Rainbow Valley.

Green Boots became a landmark for climbers. It now indicates the elevation of 8,500 meters. Tsewang has now become a part of Everest’s Rainbow Valley. He and many other failed mountaineers eternally rest on part of Everest.

Team Members with Green Boot

Was Green Boot scaling Everest alone? No, he had a dedicated team. He was part of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition team. They had six people during the ascent. Half of them returned to camp after severe frostbite.

The ones to keep pushing:

• Subedar Tsewang Samala: Tsewang Samala had an extensive history as a mountaineer. It wasn’t Samala’s first Everest summit. He summited Everest in 1984 and Kanchenjunga in 1991.

• Lance Naik Dorje Morup: Dorje Morup was from the Ladakh area. As such, he had experience in high-altitude climbs. But Everest became too challenging for the mountaineer.

• Tsewang Paljor: Tsewang Paljor was among those who kept pushing for the summit. Paljor and the other would lose their lives for the glory. 

Possible locations of their bodies:

• Tsewang Paljor: Mountaineers found a body with green boots at an elevation of 8,500 meters. Green Boots’ body is seen lying on the left side, knees drawn up. His resting place became a waypoint for climbers. Likewise, it became a symbol of Everest’s danger.

• Dorje Morup: The debate about Green Boots’ identity remains ongoing. Moreover, some in the community believe Dorje Morup is the man with the green boot. But besides Green Boots, no other body was found. Many assumed Morup fell off a cliff.

• Tsewang Samala: Samala perished above Green Boots’ location. Many believe he died near the First Step (8,550 m). Samala contacted base camp after the summit. But they lost connection soon after. To date, his body remains unidentified. 

Other members of the team:

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition team had six people on the mountain. Besides the deceased, Wangchuk, Jodh Singh, and Harbhajan Singh were climbing the Everest. But Wangchuk, Jodh, and Harbhajan turned back to base camp near the First Step.

Why wasn’t Green Boots ever recovered from Everest?

One of the hardest jobs is removing the dead from Everest. The higher the altitude, the more impossible the recovery is. Furthermore, there are many reasons why Green Boots stays on Everest.

Extreme Climate and Temperature:

The death zone, where Green Boots rest, has a very low oxygen level. The temperature above 8,000 meters remains sub-zero. With the danger of hypoxia and volatile weather, recovering the dead doesn’t seem worth the risk.

Taxing on the Body:

With the thin oxygen in the Rainbow Valley, small tasks become taxing on the body. It causes fatigue and exhaustion from walking. So, not many will climb 8,500 meters to bring the body.

Risky Job and Expensive Fee:

Removing a body from Everest is rather risky to begin with. The use of shovels and other tools may cause an avalanche. It becomes dangerous for the entire recovery team, trekkers, and the settlement below. Recovering a single body could cost over 100,000 dollars. 

Can You Still See Green Boots on Everest?

The sight of neon green boots has become iconic in the Northeastern path of Everest. So, yes, you can still see Green Boots on Everest. Was Green Boots removed from the trail? No, it was never removed by anyone over the years.

In 2014, climbers reported Green Boots missing from its resting place. Fast-forward to 2017, mountaineers started seeing Green Boots again. Many thought Green Boots was removed or buried after the disappearance. Many dashed the idea after the reappearance.

But there was one key difference after it was rediscovered. More rocks surrounded Green Boots. The limestone alcove remains a stark reminder to those who pass through.

Green Boots Everest became a cultural phenomenon.

Apart from the lasting mark on history, Green Boots has become a phenomenon. Tsewang became a landmark for mountaineers who scale Everest. Likewise, Green Boots lies frozen in time, showing his final moments.

Tragic 1996 Everest Disaster

The travesty on Everest is nothing new. Many like Sleeping Beauty of Everest have lost their lives on the peak. As they say, with glory comes a price. Green Boots isn’t the only fatality on that fateful expedition. Rob Hall and Scott Fischer lost their lives in the 1996 Everest Disaster.

Many survivors of the tragic event went on to write best-sellers. Among them, Into Thin Air propelled the story of Rob Hall and the disaster into the spotlight. And after almost twenty years, the disaster was brought to the big screen. The 2015 movie Everest told the story to a broader audience.

Even in 2025, the 1996 Everest Disaster reminds us of the volatile weather on Everest. It teaches climbers to be vigilant while climbing Everest. It serves as an example of what a lack of communication and coordination can lead to.

Green Boots Everest Lesson for all Mountaineers

The Everest etched the Green Boots' story. Aside from being a landmark, Green Boots serves as a reminder and a lesson to all. Mount Everest may hold untold beauty, but the price can be rather hefty.

Respect the mountain, always, as Everest is unforgiving. After climbing past 8,000 meters, your time starts ticking, literally. Underestimating the weather will be fatal. The summit punishes arrogance.

Green Boots and his team from the ITBP summited Everest after the turnaround time. It taught the future generation of climbers the importance of timing. 

Despite the deteriorating weather, the 1996 Indian team pushed for the summit. Green Boots, Dorje, and Samala’s decision to keep going cost them their lives.

Summit Fever kills more mountaineers than avalanches on Everest.

Rescue in the death zone or Rainbow Valley is nearly impossible. Self-rescue is the only rescue you can rely on. For many years, the removal of Green Boots was close to impossible.

Conclusion

Green Boots hasn’t only become a landmark in a limestone cave. His story is a silent and stark reminder of an unforgiving force of nature. But beyond the gloomy end of his story, Green Boots stands as a powerful lesson. Everest demands humility and discipline, not courage.

Green Boots is an example of the fine line between ambition and recklessness. Over the years, his ever-frozen presence reminds climbers to scale with caution. As Ed Viesturs once said, “Reaching the summit is optional. Returning is mandatory.”

FAQ on Green Boots Everest

Who was Green Boots on Everest?

Green Boots is the nickname given to a deceased climber. He lies on the northeast ridge of Mount Everest at around 8,500 meters.

Why is he called "Green Boots"?

You see the bright green Koflach mountaineering boots first. The climber was wearing them when he died.

What’s the real name of Green Boots Everest?

Allegedly, Green Boots’ real name is Tsewang Paljor.

When did Green Boots die?

Green Boots perished during the 1996 Everest Disaster.

Where exactly is Green Boots located?

Green Boots is in a limestone cave on the Northeast Ridge route. The altitude is around 8,500 meters.

Is Green Boots Still on Everest?

Yes, Green Boots is still on Everest.

Why was the body not removed?

Recovering bodies in the Death Zone is dangerous and costly. Often impossible without risking more lives.