Mission Planning to Retrieve the Green Boots Climber
Indian authorities aim to undertake an ambitious mission to recover the frozen remains of a climber known for nearly three decades as “Green Boots.” This climber died during one of Everest’s most catastrophic events.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is currently seeking bids from specialized high-altitude recovery teams to undertake the retrieval from the mountain’s northern slope. The plan requires the selected team to bring the remains to Delhi by October.
Tshiring Jangbu Sherpa, founder of Everest Sherpa Expedition, described the operation as highly risky—much more hazardous than standard climbing. Sherpa’s extensive experience with Everest includes leading expeditions that recovered bodies across various regional mountains in 2024.
A trained 10-person team could need up to a week for the recovery mission, according to Sherpa, who doubts that such an operation is feasible before spring due to adverse weather conditions. This timing challenge raises questions about the period specified in the tender document.
Identifying Green Boots
Green Boots earned his nickname due to the bright green footwear he wore. For many climbers, his remains at roughly 27,000 feet altitude serve as a somber landmark on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest.
The remains are located in Everest’s perilous “death zone,” where altitude exceeds 26,200 feet, drastically lowering oxygen levels and complicating even simple tasks.
Initially thought to be Tsewang Paljor, a 28-year-old ITBP member, the remains have instead been identified through DNA testing as soldier Dorje Morup, another climber in Paljor’s group, as confirmed by reports in multiple international news publications.
Mountaineering Challenges and Debates
The mountain has claimed over 200 lives, with numerous bodies lying where climbers fell as recovery poses significant risks and costs. This ongoing situation fuels debate among enthusiasts about whether retrieval attempts respect the deceased or pose unwarranted dangers to the living.
Some climbers express beforehand a desire to remain on the mountain if they die there. Yet, Sherpas like Tshiring believe repatriating remains holds significant value, bringing closure to loved ones.
Well-known cases include Francys Arsentiev, an American who died during her descent in 1998. Although her body remained visible for years, a 2007 team managed to relocate her remains for an acceptable mountain burial.
Tshiring insists on the importance of retrieval missions, adding a heartfelt call to honor the departed by bringing them back.