After 30 Years, 'Green Boots' of Everest Finally Has an Identity

Far before social media turned Mount Everest into the ultimate adventure tourism destination, climbers were talking about a figure they called simply “Green Boots.” The nickname came from a pair of bright green climbing boots worn by a frozen body lying near the Northeast Ridge route of Everest, at an altitude of around 8,500 metres. For years, the body rested inside a small rocky alcove in what climbers call the "Death Zone," an area so high that the human body slowly begins to shut down due to the lack of oxygen.

The Body Everyone Knew, But Nobody Identified

Over time, Green Boots became more than a tragic sight. The body became a reference point. Climbers ascending and descending the world's tallest mountain would often mention passing "Green Boots Cave." For many, it was a reminder of Everest's dangers. For others, it became one of the mountain's most haunting mysteries.

The Disaster That Changed Everything

It started in May 1996, during one of the deadliest seasons in Everest’s history. An expedition team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was on a summit push when bad weather turned catastrophic. Three members of the team, Subedar Tsewang Smanla, Head Constable Tsewang Paljor, and Lance Naik Dorje Morup , never returned from the mountain. Eight climbers died in the disaster, which went on to become one of the most documented tragedies in mountaineering history.
Over the years, the body thought to be that of Green Boots became widely believed to be that of Head Constable Tsewang Paljor. This identification was widely accepted in books, documentaries, and online discussions. However, questions about the identification never really disappeared.