Beyond the Legend: The True Story of Green Boots on Mount Everest

I. Introduction

Mount Everest, located in Nepal, is the world’s tallest mountain, and many climbers around the world have successfully achieved the dream of standing on the top of it. However, there is a dark side to this adventure; not everyone who goes to conquer it becomes successful and returns to their home. The people who died on Everest, especially above the Death Zone ( Above 800m), turned this place into a graveyard. There are over 200 dead bodies still lying on the Everest, and till now, 400 people have already lost their lives during the expedition.

Among many bodies, there is one famous dead body on Everest known as “Green boots”. This dead body proves that climbing Everest is not easy and reminds everyone of the risk of chasing the dream of the Everest summit.

Today, in this blog, we will let you know about the identity behind Green Boots, its significance as a symbol of Everest’s dangers, and the lasting impact it has on Everest’s story.

II. The Man Behind the Legend: Who Was Green Boots? 

Unmasking the Identity:

Green boots have become one of the most famous and grim landmarks on Mount Everest. It is believed that the Green Boots found on the Everest is the dead body of an Indian climber named Tsewang Paljor. Based on circumstantial proof such as the time, place, and gear of “Green Boots,” established that his identification. Paljor was a skilled and determined climber.

The Ill-Fated 1996 Expedition

On May 10, 1996, a tragic incident happened on Mount Everest, and it rocked mountaineers around the globe. A sudden storm and lack of oxygen due to traffic jams on the Everest, eight people lost their lives, and some climbers survived despite severe frostbite through the rescue programme. During the terrible catastrophe of 1996, Paljor was a member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) squad that tried to reach the top of Everest. Paljor’s story remains out, even though the bigger tragedy took many lives that year.

The Circumstances of His Death

On the day of the 1996 Everest disaster, Paljor and his group were about to reach the Everest summit, but there was a fierce blizzard near the summit. He got separated from his group, and to survive the storm, he sought shelter in a small rocky overhang, hoping to survive. Tragically, the extreme cold and exhaustion overcame him, and that spot became his final resting place.

III. Everest’s Grim Landmark

A. The Distinctive Sight:

Climbers who are on the Expedition to Everest can easily recognise these boots due to the glow of green Koflach climbing boots shining against the ice landscape. The deadly body remains in a slumped posture, which makes him feel like time has captured him, rendering us the brutal nature of the mountain.

B. Location and Significance:

There are two ways to reach the summit of Everest: one from the Tibetan side( north face) and one from Nepal’s side( south face). This green boot lies in the North Face, near the “Bottle Neck” at around 8,500 meters (27,900 ft). Climbers heading for the summit from the north side need to pass this unofficial marker. Appearance of green boots during the climb shows the thin line between life and death in the “Death Zone.

C. Psychological Impact:

When the climbers see the Green boots lying in the climbing route of Everest, they become very emotional. Suddenly, the combination of fear, respect, and frighteningly starts to appear in the minds of climbers, realizing the nature of mountains. Seeing this landmark, climbers often realize that no matter how much they are prepared for the expedition, they can fall victim to its hazards.

IV. Ethical Dilemmas and the Mountain’s Code 

A. “Leave No Trace” vs. “Leave No Body”:

As per the Nepal Mountaineering Association of Nepal there is a rule that every climber who goes for the Everest Expedition must follow return with waste disposal. This “ Leave no trace policy” is to conserve and protect the Everest natural state. Climbers must struggle with the question: should the dead be left where they fell, or should attempts be made to get them down?

B. The Cost of Retrieval

Many people think that why don’t we should bring the dead bodies from Everest instead of making it a graveyard. The real problem is that recovering the dead bodies from the Death Zone of Everest is very risky due to extreme altitude, harsh weather, and lack of oxygen. Also, the weight of the body can weigh more than 100kg, which makes it impossible to carry for the rescue teams. You have to spend more than hundreds of thousands of dollars just to bring back the dead body from Everest, and sometimes even if you spend that much money, there will be no guarantee.

C. Respect for the Deceased vs. Practicality

Since very few can afford to bring back the dead bodies, for this reason, most of the families choose to leave their loved ones on the mountain as a sign of respect and honor. For their respect and honor. However, some people believe that leaving bodies on Everest is disrespectful and emotionally disturbing for future climbers.

V. The Changing Landscape: Green Boots’ Later Years and Legacy 

A. The Debate Over His Position

For many years, people have been debating whether the Green Boots should remain visible on Everest or not. Some climbers believe that his body shows a powerful reminder of Everest’s danger, while some climbers believe that it was disrespectful to leave him exposed for all to see.

B. The “Removal” or Concealment

Change in the weather and time in the Everest region, The Green boots which you can see now are either moved deeper into the cave by natural phenomenon or covered on purpose. The exact reasons remain unclear, and some climbers believe that it was covered on purpose at the request of the family to reduce the emotional impact on those who pass by his body.

C. The Enduring Symbolism

Even now, after being covered with the snow and piles of rock, the “ Green Boots” will remain the ever-lasting symbol of Everest’s harsh realities. The story of green boots will remind every human that sacrifice and human cost are part of the highest peak in the world. His legacy will always be remembered around the globe.

Other Famous Person Who Died in Everest

Name	Year of Death	Details	Notable Facts
George Mallory	1924	Disappeared during a summit attempt; body found in 1999 on the North Face.	It remains unknown if he reached the summit before his death.
Francys Arsentiev	1998	Died during her descent after being stranded at high altitude.	Known as “Sleeping Beauty” due to her tragic final hours.
David Sharp	2006	Died inside Green Boots Cave.	His death caused controversy as many climbers passed by but couldn’t assist due to dangerous conditions.
Hannelore Schmatz	1979	First woman to die on Everest; body was visible on the South Route near the South Col.	Her body was seen sitting upright with her eyes open, creating a haunting image.
Unidentified German Woman	Unknown	An unidentified female climber seen near the summit route in past years.	Often referred to as “The German Female Climber”; her body was later moved or covered.

VI. Final Say

Green boots have always remained a powerful symbol of Mount Everest, showing how powerful nature is. It represents the reality that climbers who wish to reach the top of the world sometimes need to face consequences. Even though many people have died on Mount Everest, people still dream of reaching the summit of Everest, overcoming the challenge with strong determination and preparation. The great dreams are worth chasing, so no matter what, you should always focus on your dream and destination.

Posted on November 17, 2025November 17, 2025 by Subash Lamichhane