India Seeks to Recover Body of Climber Known as 'Green Boots' From Everest

Indian authorities are working to recover the body of a climber known as “Green Boots” from the upper reaches of Mount Everest, nearly three decades after the mountaineer died on the world’s highest peak. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, an Indian paramilitary force, has begun the process of hiring high-altitude recovery specialists to retrieve what it believes are the remains of Dorje Morup from Everest’s northern route on the Tibetan side.

Morup was part of a six-member Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition in May 1996. As weather conditions deteriorated near the summit, Morup and two colleagues continued their ascent while three others turned back. All three climbers who continued died in a storm that claimed eight lives across multiple expeditions, marking one of Everest's deadliest disasters at the time. Morup’s body, distinguished by the bright green mountaineering boots he wore, has since served as a landmark for climbers on the mountain’s northeast route, lying in the so-called death zone above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet).

The recovery operation is contingent on approval from Chinese authorities, who control access to the Tibetan side of Everest and tightly regulate climbing permits. China closed the mountain to foreign climbers during the 2026 spring climbing season without public explanation. The hiring of specialists is the initial step, but the operation’s feasibility also depends on favorable weather conditions.

It remains unclear whether the recovery would be conducted by an Indian, Nepali, or Chinese team, and Chinese officials have not publicly commented on the plan. "It is not impossible to retrieve the body from Everest, but the first challenge is getting permission from the Chinese officials and then only can they proceed to bring the body down," said Pemba Sherpa, founder of the Kathmandu-based Xtreme Climbers Treks and Expedition.

Since Mount Everest was first conquered in 1953, approximately 350 people have died attempting to climb it. Many bodies remain on the mountain due to the risky and expensive nature of recovery attempts. Retrieving bodies from the death zone is particularly perilous, as helicopters cannot land at such high altitudes. This forces teams of experienced Sherpa guides and high-altitude climbers to descend the steep slopes on foot, contending with avalanche risks, severe weather, and the physiological challenges of extreme altitude and low oxygen.