Operation to Recover ‘Green Boots’ from Everest Slated

Indian authorities are planning an operation to retrieve the frozen body of a climber who perished on Mount Everest almost 30 years ago. This mission involves recovering the remains of a climber known as ‘Green Boots’ from Everest’s northern slope. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) seeks bids from high altitude recovery agencies for this task.

The goal is to deliver the body to Delhi by October. The operation is considered extremely challenging, with Everest Sherpa Expedition founder Tshiring Jangbu Sherpa describing it as twice as dangerous as regular climbing. Tshiring, who has led multiple recovery expeditions in the region, estimates it would take a well-trained 10-person team about a week to complete the retrieval.

Tshiring points out the difficulty of conducting the operation before spring given the harsh weather conditions, questioning the June-October timeframe in the tender document. The ITBP did not respond to requests for comment on the plan.

Identity of Green Boots

‘Green Boots’ refers to the brightly-shod remains of a climber believed to be a landmark for those ascending from the Tibetan side. Positioned at approximately 27,000 feet, the body has become a morbid checkpoint for climbers. The area is known as the ‘death zone,’ where low oxygen levels pose significant risks.

Formerly thought to be Tsewang Paljor, an ITBP member who perished in a 1996 storm chronicled in the book ‘Into Thin Air,’ the body is now identified through DNA as Indian soldier Dorje Morup, according to recent documents.

Debate Over Recoveries

A notable example of body recovery from Everest involved Francys Arsentiev, who died descending in 1998. Initially visible along a main route, her remains received a mountain-side burial from a Sherpa-led team in 2007.

Over 200 bodies are believed to remain on Everest, with recoveries considered perilous or costly. The matter continues to stir debate in the mountaineering community. Some argue for respecting and retrieving remains, while others highlight the risk to living climbers.

Tshiring supports recovery efforts to bring closure to families, stating, ‘My opinion is we must bring them down.’