Mount Everest: Dead mountaineer “Green Boots” to be recovered

Kathmandu (Nepal) – Around 30 years after his death, the body of the mysterious mountaineer “Green Boots” is to be recovered from Mount Everest. The remains have been lying for decades on the northeast route of the highest mountain in the world (8,849 meters) and are considered a macabre reminder of the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering. Indian authorities are now planning to remove the body from the mountain.

The delicate operation should take place from the so-called death zone above 8,000 meters. There is an extreme lack of oxygen there. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) – a paramilitary force – is currently looking for a company specializing in high-altitude rescue operations. A team of experienced Sherpas is supposed to bring the body over the Tibetan side into the valley. The rescue is planned for the period between June and September. At first “The Tribune“reported about it.

Preserved by snow and ice for decades

The myth of “Green Boots” arose after a tragedy on Mount Everest in 1996. Since rescues at extreme altitudes are considered extremely dangerous, the dead man with the green mountaineering boots remained on the mountain for decades.

Preserved by snow and ice, the corpse became a grisly memorial to the living. Numerous mountaineers climbing to the summit via the northeast route had to climb past it.

Mountaineers were caught in a deadly storm

But who is “Green Boots”? This has not yet been clearly clarified to this day. According to the ITBP, this is Dorje Morup (†47). However, other mountaineers assume that the remains belong to the Indian mountaineer Tsewang Paljor († 28), also a former officer of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Both Morup and Paljor were part of a six-person expedition that was caught in a deadly storm near the summit on May 10, 1996. While three of them turned back due to the bad weather, Morup and Paljor continued the climb together with Tsewang Samanla and died a short time later on the mountain.

At least 6 Sherpas are required

The body recovery requires at least six experienced Sherpas who have special knowledge of technical recovery work at altitudes of more than 8,000 meters. The company must also obtain formalities and approvals from the Chinese authorities in Tibet to transport the body across the Tibet-Tibet border Nepal to transport, to Kathmandu to fly and organize repatriation to India.