Adam Palmer’s legacy is remembered in pieces of Eagle County — in the trails, the ice, in the waves and in the energy that powers people’s homes. On Thursday, June 25, Palmer was remembered by his beloved community, as locals attended a sold-out screening of “The Casual Enormity of Adam Palmer” at Capitol Theatre in Eagle.
The film not only captured the lasting impact that Palmer made on the people in his life, but also the many hats he wore in the environmental world of Eagle County, and beyond. After the sudden loss of Palmer, along with Andy Jessen and Seth Bossung in a 2021 avalanche near Silverton, Colorado, the Adam Palmer Sustainability Fund was created in alignment with Palmer’s efforts as a leader in sustainability.
Part of the mission of the Palmer Fund is to aid the town of Eagle in reaching its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, an initiative in which Palmer himself played a substantial role. The film showed how Palmer was ahead of his time in sustainability efforts, being an early advocate for electric car charging infrastructure and solarized electric grids.
“His sustainability and environmental work at the county level was putting Eagle County on the map,” Eagle County Senator Dylan Roberts said in the film.
The fund raises money through donors, grants and other revenue sources to give it back to projects in the Eagle community that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Right now, the fund is trying to set up a $5.6 million endowment. Kicking off that effort is the documentary, which is touring across the state, including screenings in Eagle, Silverthorne and Boulder.
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“We think this is a pretty amazing story,” executive producer of the film, Geoff Grimmer, said in an interview prior to the screening. “I think there’s a lot of excitement and pride.”
Some of Palmer’s more public titles included Holy Cross Energy Board Member, founder of EnergySmart, Eagle County Director of Sustainability and Eagle Town Councilman. However, community members also knew him as band member, trail coalition leader, avid skier, river surfer, biker, husband, son and dad.
Adam Palmer was constantly in motion, whether it was biking, skiing, river surfing or jamming with his band.Special to the Daily
Twenty-five people were interviewed for the film, including Palmer’s family members, friends and peers in local government.
“Obviously, I went along [for] the ride with Adam through everything that he was involved in, but just to see it reflected back in all the different areas, for me, it’s a lot,” said Palmer’s wife Kalie Palmer. “And then just to see the people that just loved him and how much he means to so many people … it just kind of fills your heart.”
Kalie, along with her and Palmer’s daughters, Savanna and Montana, were at the film’s screening. While Kalie had been a part of the editing process, this was the first time her girls were seeing the film.
Included in it was a song written by Montana Palmer herself called “Rain and Shine,” which she premiered later that night, after the screening, in a gathering down the road at Second Street Tavern.
“You don’t know what your legacy is. I don’t think Adam went about thinking that he was doing this to create a legacy, but we’re each out there just doing our best,” Kalie said.
After the screening, tears, soft smiles and longing memories created an atmosphere of togetherness. A panel discussion afterwards allowed movie viewers to reflect on Palmer’s legacy and share ongoing environmental efforts in Eagle County.
“(Adam) was just larger than life … he just made everything so fun,” said Ellen Bodenheimer, who ran alongside Palmer for town council and is a close friend of the Palmer family. “He was always gathering people.”
A lesson she took from Palmer? “Leaning into your community,” she said.