When space was tight in the helicopter and Melvin Druelinger needed his best people on a mission for El Paso County Search and Rescue, Peggy Parr was always among them.

Parr, who died April 2 at age 87, was an avid outdoorswoman, a dedicated rescuer, and an inspiration to many, especially women headed for adventure in the mountains.

Druelinger will lead a memorial hike to honor Parr on Monday at Garden of the Gods. “Bring ice cream, because she loved ice cream,” said her friend of 40 years, Peg Rizo.

Parr’s family also plans to host a memorial service this summer on Pikes Peak.

“Nobody knows the trails in the area like she did,” Druelinger said.

Even after she stopped jumping out of helicopters, Parr trained others to familiarize them with local trails, and she led women’s hiking groups that some weeks would attract 40 to 50 people.

“I think it appealed to women who wanted to get out of the house,” Parr told The Gazette in a 2001 story. “There is a simplicity in the wilderness that appeals to women … there’s a great rejuvenation in the outdoors that we don’t have at home.”

Parr joined Search and Rescue in 1981; not only was she one of the first women on the team, she was 59 when she joined. Serendipity led her to the group, after she saw two young women take a fall in North Cheyenne Canyon Park, alerted rescuers, and then assisted with the rescue.

“She was a woman, and most of those team members were men, and many of them young men,” Druelinger said. “But she could out-hike ANY three men.”

Through the 1980s, she was one of the area’s most dedicated rescuers, Druelinger said. Not only that, she was really good. She went on missions from Rocky Mountain National Park to the Collegiate Peaks.

“I often chose her over others because she was experienced, good, level-headed and a veteran in the mountains,” he said. “She played a key role in saving the lives of many people.”

Druelinger also described Parr as a “quiet leader” in the wilderness.

“She was a real inspiration because of her age, and her ability, and her attitude,” he said. “She was really a role model for many, for men and especially for young women who joined the group.”

Parr published a book in 1987 about her rescue experiences called “Mountain High, Mountain Rescue.”

She wrote: “This strong desire to aid strangers stricken by misfortune is like a vein of gold inside the team. When I joined, I had no such sense of mercy — adventure was my goal — but the compassion of the members was contagious and I caught this best of all diseases.”

Peggy Parr memorial hike

When: 9:30 a.m. Monday

Where: meet at Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center. Hike leader Melvin Druelinger says hikers can travel a short way to honor Parr or go on a more extended route. Bring ice cream to share.

Donations in Parr’s memory should go to Barr Camp on Pikes Peak, www.barrcamp.com. To be notified about the summer memorial service on Pikes Peak send an e-mail to joey_parr@hotmail.com.

The cover art to the upcoming “Invincible Iron Man” No. 25. Photo by MARVEL COMICS