Green Boots Cave – Tsewang Paljor on Mount Everest

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Green Boots on Mount Everest

The Green Boots Cave is a small cave close to the summit of Mount Everest on the Northeast ridge at 8.500 m (27,900 ft) height. It is located alongside the main climbing trail from the north at approximately 450 m (1,480 ft) below the summit and 250 m (820 ft) above Camp 4.

Many climbers pass it on their way up the normal north route. At least two climbers could not make the descend after summiting to the Camp 4 nearby.

Everest 1996

The Everest disaster of 1996 (Into thin Air) saw the deaths of eight climbers, which included five climbers from the Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness expeditions on the southeast route, and three fatalities on the northeast route.

These were the climbers from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition from India. 

Tsewang Paljor

Green Boots is commonly believed to be Indian climber Tsewang Paljor, who was wearing green Koflach boots on the day he and two others summited on May 10th 1996. It is possible that the dead climber is his teammate Dorje Morup. 

The dead body of the climber lays curled in a fetal position under an overhang – see the in the mid right of the painting.

Recently there have been discussions, that Tsewang Pajlor could have been “buried”.

The green boot cave occurs often in the description of fatalites. For instance, David Sharp also died in the Green Boot Cave, but his body was removed.

Source: Wikipedia

This painting is part of the set Into thin Air with ten more portraits of climbers. Click for an extensive description.