Green Boots of Mount Everest: The Story of Dorje Morup

For almost 30 years, every climber on Everest’s North Ridge passed the same frozen figure. He lay curled inside a small limestone cave at about 8,500 metres, wearing bright green mountaineering boots. Climbers never knew his name, so they called him “Green Boots”.

Most people believed he was Tsewang Paljor, a young Indian climber who died in the May 1996 storm. In 2026, India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) announced that the body was actually his teammate, Lance Naik Dorje Morup. India then began planning a mission to bring him home.

This guide tells the full story: who Dorje Morup was, what happened in 1996, why the wrong name stuck for decades, where the cave is, and what the 2026 recovery mission means.

Quick Facts about Green Boots Mount Everest

Who Was Green Boots? Dorje Morup, Identified in 2026

Green Boots was Lance Naik Dorje Morup, a soldier and mountaineer with India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The ITBP made this identification public in 2026, almost 30 years after he died on Everest.

According to Indian officials, the identification rests on DNA-based verification and on accounts from surviving members of the 1996 expedition. Some reports say a further DNA test will be done once the remains are brought down, to confirm the result beyond doubt.

Morup was in his late forties in 1996, one of the older members of the six-man summit team. He was part of a historic attempt: the first Indian ascent of Everest from the Tibetan side, by the North-East Ridge. The team fixed much of its own rope high on the mountain.

Dorje Morup, 1996 ITBP Everest Expedition

He left behind a wife and children. His wife, Konchak Yangskit, is now in her mid-seventies. She has said she knew her husband died in the storm, but could never fully accept it without seeing his body.

For three decades, his body became a waypoint, and his boots became a legend, while his name was almost forgotten. The 2026 identification gives him back his name.

Why did everyone think Green Boots was Tsewang Paljor?

For most of three decades, books, documentaries, blogs, and even Wikipedia named Tsewang Paljor as Green Boots. Paljor, about 28 years old, was the youngest of the three climbers, and once his name was attached to the body, it was repeated in nearly every retelling.

But the Morup theory was on record from the start. In 1997, P.M. Das, the expedition’s deputy leader, wrote an account for the Himalayan Journal. He argued the body in the cave was Dorje Morup, not Paljor.

Das based this on what other climbers saw after the storm:

• A Japanese team from Fukuoka met Morup alive the next day, moving slowly between the First and Second Steps. He was badly frostbitten and struggling with the fixed ropes, and they helped him on.
• The same team later found Tsewang Smanla’s body above the Second Step.
• A second ITBP group reported seeing Morup lying under the shelter of a boulder near their descent line.

Morup is believed to have died late on the afternoon of 11 May 1996. His resting place matched the cave where Green Boots lay for the next 30 years. Das’s account never caught on the way the Paljor story did. The 2026 identification shows the expedition’s own deputy leader had it right in 1997.

What happened to Green Boots in the 1996 Everest storm?

On 10 May 1996, six ITBP climbers left their high camp on Everest’s north side to go for the summit. The same storm that became the 1996 Everest disaster on the Nepal side was building on the mountain that afternoon.

As the weather turned, three of the six climbers decided to go back down. The other three kept climbing:

• Subedar Tsewang Smanla
• Lance Naik Dorje Morup
• Head Constable Tsewang Paljor

In the late afternoon, the three radioed that they had reached the top. Whether they really stood on the summit is still debated; some climbers and historians believe they stopped short of the top in the poor visibility.

That evening, two head-torches were seen descending high on the ridge, and then they disappeared from view. None of the three returned to camp.

The storm split them up. Smanla died above the Second Step. Morup was seen alive the next day, still descending very slowly, and is believed to have died late on 11 May in the small limestone alcove that became known as the Green Boots cave. Paljor’s body has never been confirmed found.

The climbers died of exposure: hypothermia, exhaustion, and the lack of oxygen above 8,000 m, in the region climbers call the Death Zone.

Where is the Green Boots Cave on Everest?

The Green Boots Cave is a small limestone alcove at about 8,500 m (27,900 ft) on Everest’s North-East Ridge, in Tibet. It sits just below the First Step, the first of three rock steps every north-side climber must pass on summit day.

Because the cave sat right beside the fixed ropes, climbers had to step around his legs. Many paused in the same alcove to rest. Reaching Green Boots told climbers they were high in the Death Zone, with the three Steps and the final summit ridge still ahead.

Location of the Green Boots cave on the North-East Ridge

The same stretch of ridge is also where British climber David Sharp died in 2006 and where American climber Francys Arsentiev died in 1998.

Is Green Boots Still on Everest?

Yes. As of September 27, 2026, Dorje Morup’s body is still on Everest’s north side, a short distance off the main climbing route. India’s recovery mission aims to bring him home in 2026.

Here is what happened to the body over the years:

1996–2014: The body lay in the open alcove beside the route. Nearly every climber on the north side passed it.

2014: A Chinese team moved the body to a less visible spot, out of sight of passing climbers. The China Tibet Mountaineering Association manages the north side.

After 2014: Some climbers reported glimpses of the body again, partly covered by rocks. These reports were never officially confirmed.

2026: The ITBP identified the body as Dorje Morup and opened a tender to recover it. News reports put the remains at about 27,700 ft (roughly 8,440 m) on the Tibet-facing slope.

David Sharp, British climber who died on Everest in May 2006

So Green Boots is no longer a landmark climbers pass on the trail, but he has not left the mountain yet.

The 2026 mission to bring Green Boots Home

In June 2026, the ITBP opened a government tender to recover Dorje Morup’s remains from the Tibet side of Everest. It is one of the most difficult body recoveries India has ever attempted.

What the plan involves, according to published reports:

• The tender calls it a “Phase II retrieval operation” for Morup’s mortal remains.
• The operation window was set for June to September 2026, with the aim of bringing the remains to Delhi by October 2026.
• Bids closed on 29 June 2026, with an earnest money deposit of INR 12.78 lakh.
• The recovery agency must field at least six Sherpas with several Everest summits and experience in high-altitude recoveries.
• The team has to climb into the Death Zone, free the body from ice and rock, and lower it down the North-East Ridge.
• Because the body lies in Tibet, the mission needs coordination with Chinese authorities before the remains can travel back through Nepal to India.

Why it is so hard:

Above 8,000 m, oxygen is about a third of sea-level levels and temperatures can fall to around –40 °C. Carrying one, even a short distance, can take several strong climbers and puts every one of them at risk. Recoveries from Everest are also expensive. Based on the information published in different sources, it is estimated to run to $75,000 or more.

Why it matters:

For Morup’s family, it means a chance to finally bury him after 30 years. For Tsewang Paljor’s family, the identification means his body is still missing on the mountain.

Status: As of 27 September 2026, no outcome of the recovery has been reported.

Why So Many Bodies Remain on Everest?

Mount Everest has covered many dead bodies of climbers from all over the world. It has now become the world’s highest graveyard for climbers. The extreme height, weather, and the notorious Death Zone above 8,000 m decrease the survival rate if not prepared well. Due to the lack of oxygen and altitude, the body starts to shut down above 8,000m Moreover, rescue at that height is impossible.

Since the early 20th century alone, over 300 climbers have died on Everest. Some fell into crevasses, some were swept by snow, and only 200 remain on the nowhere mountain. The Mount Everest bodies infographic maps are represented by time and elevation. Red triangles are foreign climbers, blue circles are Sherpa guides; Tsewang Paljor (Green Boots) is labeled high on the chart.

The map shows that the Death Zone above Camp IV has the highest death toll. The image teaches us a lesson: the number of fatalities rose steeply since the 1990s (also due to the climbing boom), and foreign climbers die higher on the mountain than Sherpas.

As of today, the government of Nepal has organized various Everest cleanup campaigns. In spring 2024, the Nepali rescue team cleaned up some garbage and the bodies of five climbers who died in the previous season.

Why do so many bodies stay on Everest? The various interlocking components explain it. Some is that climbers die in the Death Zone is extremely dangerous to rescue or carry a corpse out of there. At an elevation of 8,500 feet, climbers are at seriously low oxygen levels. In this fragile situation, adding extra weight and oxygen strain by dragging a body can kill the rescuers.

Furthermore, the terrain is technically challenging due to icy walls, carcasses, and ledges, making any rescue a Herculean task. Further, practical and bureaucratic challenges add another hurdle. It is very expensive to organize Sherpas, high-altitude gear, helicopter costs, and government permits. Recently, Nepal has made it mandatory to carry out their trash, otherwise to pay a hefty amount of fine for leaving anything behind.

Due to high death risks, Everest climbers and their families have a solemn view that the mountain is accepted as the climber’s final resting place. Going to the top is one thing, but the difficult realities are another thing. The incident of David Sharp, who was deserted by dozens of climbers. Likewise, many questioned whether Sherpas or other teams could have done more for Green Boots on Mount Everest or for David Sharp.

Factors that make rescue Bodies on Everest difficult are:

Extreme Conditions:

Above the 8,00m is called the Death Zone. Once you go beyond this height, it is very difficult for the human body to stay alive for long because of extremely thin air and cold. The risk of fatalities increases even more if climbers try to do even a hint of strength, like carrying a body.

Technical and Safety Challenges:

The high camps of Everest are built on steep ice and rock. It is impossible to simply drag the corpse down a vertical ice wall or crevasse field without specialized equipment. The dead will already be dead, but it also endangers the rescuers.

Cost and Permissions:

Rescuing the body is very expensive. The cost for the Sherpa, oxygen, helicopters, and permits is high. Cross-border regulations on Everest (Nepal vs Tibet) also complicate efforts. It will also be difficult to get permission for a massive body recovery from the government.

In conclusion, among many stories, the Green Boots Mount Everest story is one to remember.

What happened to Tsewang Paljor?

Tsewang Paljor, the climber long called Green Boots, is still missing on Everest. The 2026 identification means the body in the cave was not his, and his remains have never been confirmed as found.

Paljor was a Head Constable in the ITBP and about 28 years old in 1996, the youngest of the three who pushed on in the storm. He died on 10 or 11 May 1996 on the North-East Ridge.

Where he fell is unknown. Some accounts suggest he fell from the ridge, which would explain why his body was never seen, but that remains a theory.

For three decades, his name was attached to the most famous body on Everest. His story is now part of Green Boots history in a different way: a reminder that the storm took three men, and that not all of them have been found.

Green Boots Mount Everest Timeline

Everest Green Mount Boots FAQs

Who was Green Boots on Everest?

Green Boots was Lance Naik Dorje Morup, an Indian climber with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. He died in the May 1996 storm on Everest’s north side. India’s ITBP announced the identification in 2026. Was Green Boots Tsewang Paljor? No. For almost 30 years, most sources named Tsewang Paljor, but in 2026 the ITBP identified the body as his teammate Dorje Morup. Paljor’s body has never been confirmed found.

How was Green Boots identified?

Indian officials say the identification was based on DNA-based verification and on accounts from surviving expedition members. Some reports say a further DNA test will follow once the remains are recovered.

How did Green Boots die?

Dorje Morup was caught in a severe storm high on the North-East Ridge on 10 May 1996. He survived the night and was seen descending the next day slowly. He is believed to have died of cold and exhaustion late on 11 May, in a small limestone alcove at about 8,500 m.

Where is Green Boots on Everest?

In a limestone alcove at about 8,500 m (27,900 ft) on the North-East Ridge, just below the First Step, on the Tibet side. In 2014, the body was moved a short distance, out of view of the main route.

Is Green Boots still on Everest?

Yes, as of September 27, 2026. The body is still on the north side, off the main route. India planned a mission to recover it and bring it to Delhi by October 2026.

Why was he called Green Boots?

Because of the lime-green Koflach mountaineering boots he wore, his face was covered, so climbers knew him only by his boots.

How close was David Sharp to Green Boots?

Right beside him. In May 2006, British climber David Sharp took shelter in the same alcove and died there. Dozens of climbers passed him, which caused a worldwide debate on climbing ethics.

Why don’t they remove bodies from Everest?

Recovering a body from above 8,000 m is extremely dangerous, slow, and expensive. Rescuers risk their own lives, and many families choose to let climbers rest on the mountain.