MYCRMS
Virtual TourDr. Lynda Walters ‘80 Helps Others and Feeds Her Adventurous Spirit
As a doctor in high-stress emergency rooms, Lynda Walters ‘80, found fulfillment within the chaos by knowing she was saving lives. Her journey toward a career in emergency medicine was not linear; it was shaped by her experiences at CRMS, remarkable mentors, meaningful friendships, and involvement in Nordic skiing.
As a motivated student, Lynda struggled to find her place during middle school. A.O. Forbes ‘69, her eighth-grade outdoor education instructor, encouraged her to apply to CRMS. Upon her arrival at the school, she felt an immediate connection to her teachers, the school community, and outdoor pursuits. Her first ski instructor, Roger Paris, facilitated a transformative backcountry ski trip to Mt. Sopris when she was 16, igniting her passions for adventure, the outdoors, and skiing. Academically, she discovered her enthusiasm for science and excelled in her subjects. “All my teachers were amazing and inspiring,” she shares. During her senior year, Mark and Jeanie Clark recruited her to join the newly established CRMS cross-country ski team, an activity that quickly became her passion. Within just one year, she competed at the Junior National Championships alongside her classmate Josh Thompson ‘80.
Recognized as a determined student and athlete, Lynda received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder (CU). While pursuing a human physiology degree, she competed on the Nordic team at CU for four years, achieving notable success. Her team ultimately won the NCAA National Championship in skiing in 1982. She was also selected as a leading athlete at the World University Games held in Bulgaria. In her senior year, she was nominated as a top athlete and earned a place on the U.S. Ski Team, which allowed her to travel the world, competing internationally for three years. Sadly, a ski accident resulting in a broken back ended her career as a professional athlete.
This life-altering accident opened new avenues for Lynda. She returned to CRMS for a year as a teaching intern, collaborating with Mark Clark to coach the cross-country team. While rehabilitating her injury, she applied to and was accepted into medical school at CU Denver to study sports medicine, with the intent of informing her recovery process. During her residency, she became captivated by emergency medicine and embarked on a career as an emergency room doctor. Despite the role’s intense emotional and mental demands, her love for recreational skiing, biking, and travel provided a necessary balance. “Engaging in backcountry skiing offered me a healthy outlet to process the emotional stresses associated with my profession and the flexible work schedule allowing me to travel to exotic places, including New Zealand, Patagonia, and the Alps.”
After a decade in the emergency room, Lynda took a sabbatical to embark on the construction of a strawbale home at Powderhorn Ski Area on the Grand Mesa. During this period, she learned about micro-hydro systems and passive solar technology to achieve an off-grid lifestyle. Lynda enjoyed residing in this home for 20 years while concurrently working as an ER doctor in Fruita, Colorado, for another decade. “I was living my dream on the Grand Mesa. I loved being an ER doctor, helping people, and saving lives. When I wasn’t working, I was skiing, biking, or traveling.”
Lynda retired in January 2020, looking forward to new adventures. She custom-fitted a camper van, unaware that the pandemic would interrupt her planned trip to Alaska. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, she continued exploring the lower 48 states and reconnected with former CRMS classmates and teachers, including Mark and Jeanie Clark, in Jackson, Wyoming. Her new home base is in Salida, Colorado, where she devotes more time to mountain and gravel road biking, hiking, and traveling in her van.
Lynda is currently writing a book detailing her life and three near-death experiences, facilitating a time of introspection, contemplation, and a deeper spiritual practice. She has taken significant time to organize her affairs and contribute to organizations that have profoundly impacted her life, with CRMS being one of her primary beneficiaries. Lynda states, “CRMS is the single most important thing that happened to me. Many good things came to me as I learned about myself.” Lynda reflects, “I realized I had a very special experience at CRMS, but have come to appreciate my time at CRMS more and more as I get older. CRMS experiences continue to echo into my life.” Her advice to current students. “You may not realize what a special place CRMS is until later; savor your time and embrace everything it offers.”
