I was at Sol Mountain Lodge the week Elyse was there for her AMGA Ski course. We hit it off right away and she pumped us long-time experienced self-guided guests for any beta we could give her. Smart! When she learned that I regularly visited Moab in my van to mountain bike, without hesitation she invited me to park my van in her driveway whenever I was in Moab.
I was there visiting her that last week in Moab. She described to me why Durango was her dream job. "Every day I get to wake up, check the overnight weather and snow stats, come up some hypotheses and then go out and test them by blowing shit up!" She even invited me out to her farewell dinner with her lovely aunt Jill. Then she packed up her truck and cute-ute to drive off to Durango for the winter for the last time.
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Dear Kathy, Bob and Family, I am so sorry for your heartbreaking loss. When I see the photos of your beautiful Elyse, I am taken back to my memories of my own family and our adventures and love of the outdoors. I hope those memories can help you through the grief, and the community that loves you and Elyse so much. Thinking of you. Karen Carver
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Kathy and Bob - Sorry I can't be with you all tonight. The weather just didn't seem like it would cooperate.
I will be thinking of you and sending you hugs as you celebrate Elyse's life. Love you - Phylis
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Sending so much love to you all. We aren't able to make the events, but will raise a glass while reminiscing about her and her skating 🩷 ⛸️
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2005, Becket/Richardson house.
Another fun time while Kathy and Elyse were visiting. Annie Allan, Liz Allan, Eva Rose and Rena Marie, Granny and darling Elyse.
1
2005, Oceanside Harbor Beach, North Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA, USA
Elyse and Annie Allan. I see Kathy here so clearly!
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2005, Oceanside Harbor Beach, North Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA, USA
Eva Rose, Elyse and Rena Marie.
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2005, Oceanside Harbor Beach, North Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA, USA
Elyse with Eva Rose - she was great with my girls and they have not forgotten this visit.
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2005, Oceanside Harbor Beach, North Pacific Street, Oceanside, CA, USA
Beach day with the ice skating champ Elyse! I love this picture of her!
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Wish I could be there celebrating Elyse. Although I only met her in person once and I instantly loved her. My daughter, Brooke Lockard, would always talk about this amazing girl, Elyse. When I did get to finally meet Elyse, it was the night before they were to go climbing in Canada. Then the next day there was the passport adventure! The whole thing always makes me smile. We all came through it swimmingly and the girls went on to have an amazing trip together. As you know Brookie will be there at Elyses' celebration. Brookie is a loyal and dedicated friend especially with those she trusts and loves. She loved Elyse and is a better and even more sparkly person for having known her. I know Elyse will be forever loved and missed in so many lives. May you all be given strength to carry on, and all the love and kindness you can possibly have!
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Gary and I will not be able to be at the memorial and celebration of Elyse. We are so sorry. Please know you will all be in our thoughts as you celebrate this amazing, unique, and brave young woman. Sending our love to Kathy and Bob, friends and family.
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2003, Lake Powell, United States
Playing Chubby Bunnies for Lake Powell "Olympics"!
— with
Elyse
3
2006, Lake Powell, United States
Lake fun!
— with
Elyse,
Riley
and Landon
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2003, Lake Powell, United States
3
2003, Lake Powell National Park Services, Lake Powell, UT, USA
Annual Egg Toss
— with
Elyse Parcell
3
2006, Lake Powell, United States
— with
Riley,
Landon
and Elyse
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From the Telluride Daily Planet ~ Elyse Parcell passed away peacefully on November 15th, 2023 due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on November 9 near Telluride, Colorado. She was 31 years old. Elyse was a sixth generation resident of Durango and Silverton, Colorado and was the only child of her wonderful parents, Kathy and Bob Parcell. She wore several hats in the snow and avalanche world in her all too brief life and will be remembered forever for her positive energy, loyal friendship, riotous sense of humor and fun-loving attitude.
Elyse began ski patrolling in Telluride in 2015 following an internship at Silverton Mountain. She was a valuable and well-loved member of the Telluride Ski Patrol family and was entering her third year as a snow safety technician and a member of the high angle rescue team. Elyse was a diligent and driven avalanche practitioner and was coming into her own as a leader on patrol. Elyse was also a gifted artist, and would draw incredibly detailed and beautiful graphs of snowfall and weather data season after season for her own enjoyment and edification. Her loss leaves a huge hole on patrol, both in technical skill and team morale.
In addition to patrolling, Elyse spent the past four spring seasons working for several heliski operations in Haines and Valdez, Alaska and was moving through the AMGA guide track. She fell in love with Alaska, and pursued several personal adventures there as well, including a 10 day ski mountaineering expedition in the Wrangell St. Elias range and as a Denali Rescue Volunteer on a three week patrol of the West Buttress route of Denali.
Elyse was equal parts mountain queen and desert rat. She loved snow as much as she loved slick rock and rivers. Adventurous from a young age, she relished getting dirty and pushing herself to have new and exciting experiences outside. Through skiing, family river trips and camping in the desert, she reveled in outdoor activity, which her parents eagerly supported. She also had some more surprising skills and interests as a youngster, such as scuba diving and figure skating. For her Telluride Ski Patrol rookie party, she planned an outing at the local ice rink, and blew the minds of her teammates by throwing double loops around them!
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Dear Bob and Kathy,
I was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of your beloved daughter, Elyse. Her passion for life, evident through her love for the mountains and the great outdoors, painted a vibrant picture of her adventurous spirit.
Though I didn't have the privilege of knowing Elyse personally, your heartfelt stories illuminated her remarkable essence. Her zest for life and the way she embraced challenges was truly inspiring. I can see the tremendous impact she had on those around her as I look through the wonderful photos on this memorial
Please know that my thoughts are with you both during this incredibly difficult time. May the memories of Elyse's adventurous spirit bring you moments of comfort and peace amidst the profound grief. If there's anything I can do to support you, please don't hesitate to reach out.
With heartfelt sympathy
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Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah 313, Moab, UT, USA
I liked Elyse the moment we met. She was instantly warm, funny, and made me feel like we had known each other for a very, long time. I loved having this very smart and capable lady join the SAR team at Grand County and brighten the scene every time she was around. I so admire the woman she was and am honored to have her as a brilliant example of the kind of person I strive to embody. I will keep her torch burning bright and I send so much love to her family, friends, and very far-reaching community. Much love, Maggie Nielsen
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Bob and Kathy, Aunt Jill, and family,
My heart goes out to you upon hearing about the loss of your beloved, wild, and beautiful Elyse. Please accept my deepest sympathies, and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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