Green Boots | The Legendary Frozen Figure on Mt. Everest

This article takes a look at the mysterious and sad tale of a man better known as ‘Green Boots,’ a climber whose body became one of the significant landmarks of the northeastern route to Mount Everest. Known on the Internet as Tsewang Paljor, Indian climber that died in the 1996 Mount Everest. Relying on the data obtained, this paper will try to elucidate who Green Boots was, how he died, and what is the significance of his story to mountaineering culture.     

The folklore of Mount Everest is not any secret. Recognized as the pinnacle of climbers, it reflects human desire and acts as a gravesite of climbers who perished in search of accomplishment. Of all the stories that are whispered in the wind on the Peak mountains, ‘Green Boots’ is a much more heart-wrenching one of the northern route.

Despite such deep interest, Green Boots, whose neon green mountaineering boots indicate where he died, is still rather unknown. 

Apart from the boots and the acknowledgment from other climbers, “Green Boots” embodies a story of human striving for achievement and the fight against death in such a hostile environment.

The title probes into his persona, life events and his death, and posthumous impact in a manner that only few have pierced into. 

Understanding ‘Green Boots’ is not merely a historical analysis, it is an overview of the magnitude of difficulties that climbers face on Everest. With its deadly slopes, ‘Green Boots’ symbolizes the cost paid to conquer the world’s highest terrain. 

So, let’s discuss Green Boots, unfolding how his tale has captured thousands of interest, far beyond climbers. How and Why is his story so important? A story about struggle, life and death and climbing challenging obstacles.

Historical Background

A tale opened in the shadow of the mountains that is now a part of mountaineering history. It was in 1996 when Mountain Everest had embraced a major tragic season. Before the storm and the headlines, there was Tsewang Paljor, a young man from a small Ladakhi village dreaming of touching the sky.  

It was a story of ambition, duty, and destiny from the quiet streets of Sakti to the Indo-Tibetan Border police. Let’s reveal the untold stories behind this famous story.

Early Life and Personal Background of Tsewang Paljor

Tsewang Paljor was born in 1968 in Sakti, a small village in Leh district of Ladakh state in India. Since his early years, Paljor has been growing in the vicinity of the ruthless and craggy Himalayas which have befriended him with the unforgiving mountains. He grew up a young boy in the abode of the Ladakhi Buddhists, where he developed much respect for nature and the peaks around.

It is well documented that Paljor was a typical serious man who refused to shun hard work. 

He continued his studies in his locality and joined the Government High School in Leh. Doing well academically, he was drawn to subjects that could teach him more about nature and the country he grew up in, that is, a country of mountains. He always had this keen interest in the natural world, thereby enlisting into the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) upon completing his education.

There, in the ITBP, Paljor went through harsh physical training, and developed in himself the ability to survive even in the alpine conditions and tough climbing capabilities. 

The ITBP is a paramilitary force, charged with guarding the boundaries of the country in some of the toughest terrains on the face of the earth. The post’s assignments required Paljor to serve in the elevated territories, thus gaining the experience that would warrant him an opportunity to join the then upcoming Everest expedition.

The 1996 Indo-Tibetan Border Police Expedition

The ITBP team in the 1996 expedition for Everest intended to be the pioneer Indian team to successfully ascend Mount Everest from the North Col in Tibet. There were many experienced climbers in the team, one of them was Paljor. 

The expedition was not only significant nationally, but also logistically demanding, requiring careful planning and preparation, drills, and interaction with various support teams. 

It is important to note that the members of the expedition team were specially trained for the event and had undergone different training in different high altitude steeps. 

The required personnel were hired based on their physical fitness, their skills in climbing and their performance under pressure. Enthusiastically, the leader of the expedition was also a highly experienced climber, Harbhajan Singh, who was a doyen of several previous successful expeditions. 

The conquering plan employed by the team consisted of erecting various camps along the route, and establishing stores of food and fuel, as well as familiarizing themselves with the high altitudes before the final assault to avoid altitude sicknesses (Climb High, Sleep Low). 

The 1996 Everest Disaster

Reaching the top of Everest’s peak would quickly turn to tragedy on May 10 1996. It began as ambitious climb with foot-driven push from Tsewang Paljor and his teammate, becoming one of the most sobering lessons on mountain’s strength. 

Decisions made in the next few hours can lead to storm and devastating consequences. Sure, the story cannot be new to some. But this account takes them through Paljor and his climbing friends Dorje Morup and Tsewang Samanla for the final climb to the summit, with the vicious storm that ensued and the awful discovery that would preserve Everest’s History.

The Ascent and the Storm

On May 10th, 1996, Tsewang Paljor and his two other teammates, Dorje Morup and Tsewang Samanla embarked on the final assault to the top of the mountain. Despite knowing that the storm was fast approaching, the three men decided to go further up the mountain fueled by personal pride and country pride. Harbhajan Singh the team leader had urged them to retreat because of the inclement weather conditions but since they were very close to the summit they ignored him. 

The climb was not entirely without problems. The climbers had to endure very cold temperatures, wind, and low levels of oxygen. The day turned worse, and the elements became dangerous, reducing the visibility of the battles in the landscape. The team had to walk through the rough terrains of the mountain which included what is often referred to as the Second Step, a thirty meter high rock face that is at an elevation of around 8,610 meters. Despite these difficulties, Paljor and his teammates reached the summit around 3:30 PM and thus making the two of them the first Indians to conquer the difficult North Col route of Everest.

Summit and Descent

Paljor and his teammates were able to reach the peak of Mount Everest in the afternoon. It was for the first time that the Indian team succeeded in climbing through the route of North Col. But the joviality was cut short by the rains as the weather turned horribly bad within a short time. The team commenced their descent in a blizzard, doing battle with winds, frost, and minimal visibility measured at near-naught. 

Descent began to turn into survival. They are physically drained, out of oxygen and visually impaired by a blizzard and absence of light, which makes orientation nearly impossible. Paljor and his teammates were stranded from one another during the coming down. As per the testimonies of the climbers and other studies and researches, Paljor tried to find a shelter at around the height of 8,500 meters, which now is famously known as Green Boots Cave.

The Last Hours

It was, however, during Paljor’s last moments the hardships of high altitude struck and struck hard. The temperature can get as low as -30 degrees Celsius or even lower; combined with low oxygen levels, the climb hammers the body and the mind. Having climbed up to the fabled “Heaven,” Paljor was out of breath and freezing that he could hardly move anymore. His last effort in trying to save heat was probably one of the features that made him so easily recognizable to the general public: his neon green Koflach mountaineering boots. 

Paljor’s body was found seated in the alcove which suggests that he died from hypothermia. If the heat loss is more than the heat production, hypothermia develops, where the body begins to shut down arteries leading to essential organs. In high altitude regions, the onset of hypothermia is even more severe due to poor oxygen availability and reduced temperature. Silently Paljor succumbed to the harsh forces suggesting that courage and determination coupled with a quest for fame and adventure are not immune to the ruthless forces of the Everest.

Discovery and Identification

The discovery of a climber’s body on Everest is always a somber moment. The mountaineering history became more emphasized with the story of how Tsewang Paljor was found and identified. The distinctive neon green boots he wore would not only let climbers identify him, but could also make him an unintended landmark on the mountain, known by climbers as “Green Boots”. 

Let’s track back to how the body was first “discovered” by other climbers and how the careful process finally confirmed what many already suspected, that the Green Boots was Tsweang Paljor indeed.

Initial Discovery

The body of Paljor was found by other climbers on the northern face later in the same year, 1996. The particular neon green Koflach mountaineering boots that were worn were symbolic for the subsequent expeditions. For several years the identity of ‘Green Boots’ was unknown and many theories and discussions emerged among the climbers. 

 The finding of Paljor’s body by fellow climbers was quite shocking and even humbling to those involved at first. There’s nothing quite like seeing another climber and finding them in a state of despair, it was a poignant reminder of the risks involved in mountaineering. The position of the body and condition of the equipment gave an impression that Paljor had struggled hard to survive but perished at ice.

Confirming the Identity

Eyewitness evidence was collected from Paljor’s surviving teammates, research on the clothes and equipment that the climbers wore as well as other supporting accounts from the various climbers who were on the expedition at the time helped to establish beyond doubt that Green Boots was Tsewang Paljor. This confirmation, however, did little to reduce the feeling of tragic surrounding his death and ethical controversy on exhibiting bodies on Mount Everest. 

There were certain stages that were followed in the identification of Paljor. First of all, the original characteristics of his equipment, including leather neon boots and climbing harnesses and the brands and models of his outfit were compared with the lists of inventory and photographs made during the expedition. Additionally, other teammates that survived testified on Paljor’s cloth and other personal effects that were found on him which also helped in confirming his identity. Last but not the least, the time and the place of recovery of the body were consistent with the sequence of activities of Paljor and his team while climbing up and down the peaks.

Impact on Climbers and the Climbing Community

The presence of “Green Boots”, Tsewang Paljor has brought a deep connection within the climbing community that discusses about mortality, ethics, and actual price of mountaineering on the Everest north route now. His remains have not only been more than just a landmark, it is a power symbols that puts climbers to face the physical and moral challenges of high altitude climbing. 

Exploring these impacts, we get to see the how Paljor’s story influences other climber’s minds and hearts, as well as the difficult questions about honoring the people that didn’t return from the mountain.

Psychological and Emotional Effects

Notably, meeting ‘Green Boots’ is a wake-up call for many climbers to recall the dangers that the mountain poses to them. The painful perception of a fellow climbers’ struggle provides spectators with fear, compassion, and determination to win over the mountain and face its hardships. Some climbers said they develop a psychological bond with ‘Green Boots’ and think over the fragility of human life and the numerous chances which separate triumph and Loss. 

The psychological implication that Green Boots leaves behind is astounding. Climbers have a lot to say about the psychological burden in cross paths with a body that appears to be forever still, firmly planted on the rocks leading to the top. Such an event can act, and should act, as a very memorable and vivid lesson of how fragile life can be in high altitude. For some it reminds the necessity of right preparation, good practice, and devotion to the mountain. For some it might inspire them to think and ask themselves what do they want, what are they willing to sacrifice.

Ethical Considerations

Bodies like the ‘Green Boots’ found on Mount Everest for instance are rather an issue of ethics. While some say that such bodies should be buried in accordance to a specific culture for the respect of the family of the deceased person, others think that these operations are costly and dangerous. Furthermore, it is gaining appreciation to just allow the bodies to remain as such to be memorable grisly scenes of the ill-fated mountain. 

There are a lot of ethical issues that surround the removal of bodies from the mountain of Everest. On one hand, many of the families of climbers who died during the ascents appeal for the remains of their kin to be repatriated and buried as they should. On the other hand, the process of transporting bodies to that altitude and the uncertainties of a rescue mission are nearly impossible. This obviously calls for close strategizing, massive funding and the willingness of the rescue teams to risk their lives for the sake of the trapped individuals. However, there are some people in the climbing society who believe that the bodies should be left out on the mountain and act as a souvenir and memo of how dangerous the endeavor of high-altitude climbing is.

Ethical Debates and Body Retrieval

Retrieving the bodies from Everest is one of the most challenging moral and practical dilemmas in mountaineering. Families actually want to get their loved ones home, but the fact is that, “death zone” is a harsh reality for recovery against missions extremely dangerous and often impossible. 

Let’s assess the difficulty of retrieving body from Everest climbers and learn from both successful and failed recovery missions.

Risks and Challenges of Retrieval

The recovery of the bodies from high altitude places like Everest is always very challenging. The bad weather, challenges with the technology being used and the many difficulties in coordination makes such operations extremely risky and is evidence of the fact that the governments fear the public may be able to hold them accountable for their misdeeds. As for the exertion that a person needs to expend in order to shift a body, together with the presumed danger in the lives of the teams that work to rescue the victims, the former is often thought to offset the latter.

Benefits of retrieval

Above 8000 meters which is known as the “death zone” it becomes impossible for the human body to cope. You must understand that there is no oxygen, low temperatures, and physically exhausting work all add to the impossibility of any physical chore. 

The weight of a body together with the extra equipment necessary for such an operation, poses significant challenges. Besides, the number of patrons and the opening hours are problematic due to unpredicted severe weather, and the technical challenges that are associated with the physical landscape of the environment also affects the risks that are incurred. In numerous cases, the decision to leave a body on the mountain is taken with a view of preventing additional lose of life.

Cases of Successful and Unsuccessful Retrievals

There exist certain occurrences where bodies have been successfully recovered from Everest, frequently accompanied by a high level of costs, including the financial and organizational ones. However, these efforts are very scarce and normally only provided to high profile climbers whose families can afford to pay. On the other hand, many retrieval attempts have failed resulting in increased risks of such attempts.

Public eye and media was most sensitized with the Francys Arsentiev case which was retrieved successfully. She was an American climber who passed away on mount Everest in 1998 and her body was recovered in 2007 by a team headed by climber Ian Woodall, who felt the responsibility for giving the woman a proper burial. It was also risky for the rebels to conduct the operation and was very costly to undertake, thus demanding a lot of planning and coordination. However, there are many well-articulated trials which have been unsuccessful, like in the case of the numerous attempts to recover the dead body of British climber David Sharp who died in 2006. These failures reveal a high amount of difficulties and dangers, mostly in the aspect of body retrieval at high altitudes.

The Legacy of ‘Green Boots’

The thought-provoking ‘Green Boots’, and a few markers on Everest have become well known. For Tsewang Paljor and later for all climbers there was more than a tragic story behind his final climb, more than just a symbol of beauty and danger on high altitude mountaineering. His story has gone on to influence climbing culture, and more importantly has sparked conversations ranging around Everest’s commercialization and our relationship with this formidable mountain.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

In the course of the years, ‘Green Boots’ has not only become a symbol of a tragic figure but also has progressively been adopted for symbolic as well as cultural functions at the centre of the mountaineering culture(SWOSTIKA KHANAL). His precence on the mountain can act as a cautionary tale to the climbers, alerting the basic dangers which includes risks of mountaineering activities at high altitude and the requirement of proper planning and environmentalism that needs to be maintained and enhanced.

The story of ‘Green Boots’ is still fresh within the stigma of climbers and had become a mascot of as opposite facets of the same daring proposition, the enchanting prospective of understanding the worlds tallest mountain and the danger associated with it. His neon green boots, a bright yellow t-shirt serves a clear and visible sign, work as a guarantor of people’s recognition of the losses incurred. It can be used for those people that are trying to subdue the seven continents’ highest mountains(SWOSTIKA KHANAL). For many climbers, ‘Green Boots’ is the true, incontestable embodiment of endurance, tenacity, and consideration for the nature. His legacy acts as a symbol of the human spirit’s desire to think, discover, and go beyond the borders, excluding them even when it seemed that they were doomed.

Media Representation and Public Perception

The story of the ‘Green Boots’ is rather famous and has been covered in many documentaries, books, and articles, seeking to make the people more informed on the risks associated with Everest. This media representation, though depicting it in the most dramatic way, has also raised very relevant issues such as debates involving moralities of climbing, commercialism of Everest, and the duties of climbers and expedition organizers(Nuwer).

It can be seen that media has been very active in transmitting the information regarding the ‘Green Boots’ and the general story of climbing the Mount Everest. Documentaries such as “Everest” and books such as Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air”, made the story of the ‘Green Boots’ popular underlining personal tragedy and the ethical issues(Nuwer). These representations sometimes stress the dramatic and the risky aspect of high-altitude climbing sometimes at the cost of more refined view with regards to the multifaceted motives and processes of the climbers. Nonetheless, the increased exposure has caused crucial discourse of the commercialization of the mount Everest, proactivity of climbers and organizations involved in mountaineering, and the ethics practicalities related to the handling of the bodies in mountain.

Final Say

‘Green Boots’ stands as a haunting symbol of the human cost of mountaineering, ‘Green Boots’ acts as a testimony for so many climbers who lost their lives in the attempt of summiting, especially linked with the 1996 tragedy on Mount Everest. His presence on the northern side of Everest serves as a vivid example of the dangers and losses involved in the profession associated with world’s highest peaks. This paper provides a detail analysis of ‘Green Boots’ to understand who he actually was, information other than Wikipedia offers insights, to unravel his identity, details of his death, and how the grieving climbers’ community has been affected.

The man’s story raises passion and ethical dilemmas in the climbing community up to the present. Audience too, get to practice self-reflection on various issues that are involved in high-altitude adventure. By recording ‘Green Boots’ and his importance, this study does not only pay respect to his contribution but it also reflects man’s aspiration, the concept of death as well as the notion of existence or rather persistence and the push for preposterous accomplishment in the most adverse environment that nature has to offer.