In brief
Dorje Morup, an Indian climber, perished 30 years ago on Everest’s northern ridge and has become a chilling landmark known as ‘Green Boots’. The Indian government is now coordinating a risky recovery operation, aiming to return his remains to family for final tests and respectful burial. The mission faces extreme weather, limited access, and logistical challenges, but hope is high that the body will finally be reclaimed.
For 30 years, a dead body has been visible near Everest’s summit, earning the nickname “Green Boots” due to the distinctive lime‑green mountaineering boots that encased the climber’s feet. The person is identified as Dorje Morup, a 48‑year‑old lance corporal from the Indo‑Tibetan Border Police who joined a historic 1996 expedition that attempted the summit from the Chinese side.
In 1996, Morup and two comrades succeeded in reaching the summit but a severe blizzard struck during descent, claiming the lives of all three. While two bodies remain unlocatable, Morup’s remains were pinpointed by recent testimony and the location of his last radio contact. The Indian authorities now hope to recover the body for DNA confirmation before it is returned to his family.
The recovery will require a specialised high‑altitude team capable of navigating the steep north ridge, installing fixed ropes, and carrying the body past 8,500 m to a lower pass where a helicopter or yaks can deliver it to an airstrip. The daunting terrain and harsh weather make the task expensive, estimated at $40,000‑$80,000, and it will involve 10‑12 elite climbers.
Morup’s wife, Yangskit, has lived with the disbelief of not having seen her husband's body. The family, led by his eldest son Punchok Dorjai, wishes to honor him by holding a funeral at Martyrs Park in Ladakh, keeping his summit certificate and the “Green Boots” as memorials.
If the mission succeeds, the body will undergo DNA testing to confirm identity, after which the remains will be respectfully buried, offering closure to those who lost their loved ones and cementing Morup’s legacy as a national hero.
