FOR almost 30 years, climbers ascending Everest’s Northeast Ridge have passed a small cave at 27,890ft where a fallen mountaineer became preserved in ice, his bright green boots protruding from the snow. Known simply as ‘Green Boots’, the climber became one of the mountain’s most unsettling landmarks, a reminder of the brutal reality of climbing in the death zone.
Today, that mystery is finally solved.
The Indo‑Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has confirmed that the remains belong to Dorje Morup, a 47‑year‑old Indian climber who died during the 1996 Everest disaster. A DNA comparison ended decades of speculation that the body was that of fellow climber Tsewang Paljor, long believed to be Green Boots.
Morup was part of a six‑member ITBP team attempting the summit via the north face on May 10, 1996. Caught in a ferocious blizzard near the top, three climbers turned back, while Morup continued with Paljor and Tsewang Samanla. All three died on the mountain, part of the eight fatalities recorded during the infamous 1996 Everest season .
His body lay where he fell – curled on his side inside a shallow recess, apparently seeking shelter in his final moments. Snow and ice preserved him for decades, and passing expeditions began referring to the spot as Green Boots Cave.
Now, with the identity confirmed, officials are preparing a specialist high‑altitude recovery mission from the Tibetan side later this summer. The operation will attempt to bring Morup home from the death zone – an area above 26,000ft where oxygen is sits at dangerously low levels.
For many climbers, encountering Green Boots was one of the most disturbing moments of the ascent. For others, he was a stark reminder of the risks that define Everest. With this identification, Morup’s family – and the mountaineering world – finally have closure.
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