Green Boots Recovery Delayed to 2027
Indo-Tibetan Border Police have postponed the retrieval of the body of climber Dorje Morup from Mount Everest's Tibetan side to the April to May 2027 season.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Adventure Travel
The planned retrieval of the body known as Green Boots from Mount Everest did not take place in the summer 2026 climbing season. Indo-Tibetan Border Police have rescheduled the repatriation mission to the April to May 2027 climbing window.
Why it matters
China kept the Tibetan side of the mountain closed to climbers for the 2027 season, and Chinese authorities did not grant permission for the retrieval mission. The delay leaves the remains of a climber who died in 1996 on the mountain for another year.
The tender requires bidders to have completed at least one rescue operation above 8,000 metres in the past five years, and the body sits at 8,500 metres on the Tibetan side. Chinese permission for the mission has not been granted, and the source does not indicate whether it will be.
The players
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is the Indian paramilitary force that identified the body through DNA testing and issued the tender for the retrieval mission.
Dorje Morup
Dorje Morup was a 47-year-old Indian climber whose body, nicknamed Green Boots, has remained on Mount Everest since he died in 1996.
The details
Sherpas collected DNA from the corpse, which the Indo-Tibetan Border Police tested to identify it as Dorje Morup, a 47-year-old Indian climber who died in a blizzard in May 1996 while attempting the Tibetan-side summit. The Border Police issued a government tender seeking a team of six skilled Sherpas to work between June and September.
Timeline
May 1996: Dorje Morup dies in a blizzard attempting the Tibetan-side summit of Mount Everest.
2014: The body is moved off the main climbing path.
June 2026: The body is identified as Morup and the government tender is issued.
June to September 2026: The window originally planned for the retrieval mission.
April to May 2027: The retrieval mission is rescheduled to this climbing season.
Big Picture
The delay reflects China's decision to keep the Tibetan side of Everest closed for the 2027 season, following an investigation tied to a fireworks display near Shigatse. Recovery of remains on that side depends on Chinese authorization, which has not yet been granted.
Travelers considering Everest expeditions should note that the Tibetan side remained closed for the 2027 season, so routes and permits depend on Chinese authorization. Climbers should verify access rules before booking, since closures can extend across entire seasons.
The takeaway
Expedition access on Everest's Tibetan side can shift with a single government decision, so climbers and recovery teams should plan around permit uncertainty rather than fixed seasons.
What happens next
The retrieval mission is scheduled for the April to May 2027 climbing season, pending Chinese permission.
Further reading
For more on high-altitude expeditions and the risks of climbing the world's tallest peaks, explore Adventure Travel.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tab.
