Tsewang Paljor Indian climber who died on Everest Date of Birth: 10.04.1968 Country: India

Biography of Tsewang Paljor

Tsewang Paljor, also known as "Green Boots," was an Indian mountaineer who tragically lost his life on Mount Everest. Although not widely recognized by his name, his nickname has gained much recognition. Interestingly, Paljor acquired the nickname after his death, and today, anyone ascending the North Face of Everest knows that "Green Boots" signifies the 8500m mark. It is at this spot that Paljor's body remains, still wearing his brightly colored green boots.

The Everest disaster, which occurred in May 1996, is another significant event associated with Paljor. This tragedy, often referred to as the "Tragedy on Mt. Everest," is well-known among those with even a slight interest in mountains and mountaineering. The year 1996 proved to be a terrifying one for conquerors of the world's highest peak, as 15 climbers were unable to descend, making it the deadliest year in Everest's history.

In May 1996, Senior Constable Tsewang Paljor was one of six mountaineers from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) attempting to conquer Everest. Alongside the primary goal of summiting the mountain, these climbers were also responsible for trailblazing and securing ropes for other mountaineers later in the season. When a blizzard struck the mountain, three of the climbers decided to descend, while Paljor and two others, Tsewang Samanla and Dorje Morup, chose to continue.

On May 10th at 15:45, Paljor and his companions contacted the base camp via radio, informing them of their successful summit and the placement of flags. After performing a religious ceremony, the climbers began their descent. However, Paljor and Morup began their descent while Samanla stayed behind, as he wished to partake in additional significant religious rituals. None of the climbers ever returned to the base camp.

During the following days, a fierce snowstorm raged on the North Face of Everest, resulting in unsuccessful rescue attempts. Interestingly, despite the adverse weather conditions, a Japanese climbing team from Fukuoka successfully summited on May 11th and 13th. Controversy arose when it was revealed that the Japanese climbers had encountered three Indian climbers who were suffering from frostbite and in need of assistance but continued their ascent without offering help. The Japanese climbers denied these accusations, fueling an ongoing debate.

Paljor's body was eventually discovered at 8500m, lying face down and frozen. Only his green mountaineering boots stood out against the white snow. Retrieving Paljor's body from the mountain proved to be a challenging task, and it remains there to this day. The question of whether the Japanese climbers could have helped Paljor remains unanswered.

Today, when ascending the North Face of Everest, one can still see Tsewang Paljor's body, known as "Green Boots," at the 8500m mark. His nickname has become more famous than the name of the Indian Senior Constable from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. In a tragic coincidence, in 2006, Paljor gained a "neighbor" - English mountaineer David Sharp, who also failed to descend after successfully summiting. Sharp's body lies nearby, emphasizing the tragedy further. Several groups passed by the dying and freezing Sharp, yet no one attempted to help him.

Therefore, "Green Boots" and the 8500m mark on the North Face of Everest serves as a reminder that even in the most challenging and unforgiving mountains, one must remember to uphold their humanity and not solely focus on conquering the harsh summit.