By Mary Shinn
Herald Staff Writer
A memorial for four young Durangoans who recently died in accidents started taking shape on the Rim Trail near Fort Lewis College this summer, with the help of volunteers.
The geology overlook being built in memory of Peter Carver, a young resident who died in an avalanche in 2013, was cut into the hillside this summer and the Rim Trail has been rerouted to connect to it.
Above the trail, a grove of evergreen trees is being planted and it will also memorialize three other young Durangoans – Tyler Gordon, Kelsey McLean and Olivia Buchanan.
“All four of those kids had unbelievable potential,” said Alex McLean. His daughter, Kelsey, 23, died in a car collision in Montana on the way to graduate school at Gonzaga University.
After the three young adults this year died, the desire to memorialize them led to an evolution of the Peter Carver Memorial Forest, which was already being planted, to include them, said Bill Carver, Peter’s father.
All of the young people loved outdoor adventures and their parents found the site fitting for that reason.
“These kids loved being outside, they loved being part of the Earth,” said Amy Buchanan, Olivia’s mother. Olivia, 23, died in an avalanche above Silverton in May.
They also would have appreciated the new inclusive grove.
“There is definitely some comfort in knowing you’re not alone walking through this,” said Connie Gordon, Tyler’s mother. Tyler Gordon was 21 when he died from a fall while climbing in Yosemite National Park in May.
While the grove is currently being planted in honor of these four young adults, it is not exclusive, said Bill Carver. “A grove can be meaningful to a lot of people,” he said.
Below the grove, terraces have been cleared and are held in place by large boulders that supply natural seating.
Around the overlook, the memorial forest planted by friends and family of the young adults now totals 85 trees, said Claire Carver, Peter’s sister.
As part of the overlook, several educational models and a peak finder are going to be installed, in memory of Peter, who was a geology major.
For example, a large rock-layer display, about 25-feet long and several feet high, depicting the mountains visible for the overlook is planned, said Paul Wilbert, a family friend who designed the project.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
