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Mystery Climber 'Green Boots' Finally Named
10 Oct
Summary
- Dorje Morup, known as 'Green Boots,' died on Everest in 1996.
- DNA samples confirmed his identity after 30 years on the mountain.
- India plans a risky mission to bring his body home for burial.
A 30-year-old mystery on Mount Everest has been solved with the identification of Dorje Morup, known for decades as 'Green Boots.' Morup died in a ferocious storm in 1996 near the summit, becoming a grim landmark due to his distinctive lime-green boots.
For years, his frozen body lay exposed on the challenging Tibetan approach. Last year, a covert operation successfully retrieved DNA samples, confirming his identity as Dorje Morup, a 47-year-old member of India's Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
Now, India's government is organizing a perilous mission to retrieve Morup's body from the mountain's "death zone." This highly risky operation aims to bring him home for a proper burial and provide closure to his family.
The recovery faces significant diplomatic and logistical challenges. It requires diplomatic buy-in from China, which closed the Tibetan side of Everest to foreign climbers in 2023. The mission is tentatively scheduled for the April-May 2027 climbing season.
