Remembering Cole: A Tribute to His 26th Birthday with 23 Trees in Monongahela National Forest

On July 10, Cole would have celebrated his 26th birthday.

This will be the third birthday week without him here on this side of the veil.

Birthday week began when I had my children, and they reveled in being celebrated all week. This week isn’t about celebrating anymore, but rather a time for remembrance and reminiscing—reflecting on the person Cole was and the ways we can continue his legacy.

Each year, we travel to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia to visit “Cole’s Forest.” Shortly after Cole’s accident, four dear friends generously donated 23 trees through the USDA Forest Service—one for each year of Cole’s life.  Checking on Cole’s trees and seeing progress as those tiny saplings become stronger with each passing year reminds me that love and grief can coexist.

Today, those trees line both sides of a quiet dirt road atop a breathtaking mountain. Standing there, you can see for miles. It is one of those places the Irish call “the thin places”—places of awe so beautiful they take your breath away. These sacred places are where the veil between heaven and earth feels the thinnest. How fitting that  veilCole’s Forest is here.

The American Hiking Society reflects so much of what Cole was passionate about. He loved the outdoors. He embraced every adventure that came his way and found joy in hiking, climbing, exploring, and discovering new places. He also loved sharing music and encouraging people to really listen to the lyrics.

One of his favorite songs was Culberson County by Red Shahan, particularly the line about preserving wild, lonely places. It perfectly captured his love of nature and his belief that these places were worth protecting. Preserving those wild places feels like one of the most meaningful ways to honor his life.

While the USDA Forest Service planted Cole’s Forest, donations made through the American Hiking Society help care for the kinds of places Cole would have loved to explore.

The American Hiking Society provides resources to help people discover trails in their own communities. They also organize Volunteer Vacations in remote and diverse locations across the country, including Monongahela National Forest.

Because these are protected wilderness areas, all of the work is done by hand—clearing fallen trees, restoring trails, removing overgrown vegetation, and improving drainage to keep the trails healthy and sustainable.

Donations made in Cole’s memory help preserve these beautiful places - every trail maintained, every path restored, and every adventure made possible for someone else continues the spirit of the young man who believed life was meant to be lived outside, embraced fully, and never taken for granted.

We’ll find you where the mountains touch the sky…

Happy 26th Birthday, Cole. ❤️

Learn more about Cole and the Cole Stevens No Bad Days Project at www.colestevensnobaddaysproject.net.

If you feel inspired, go on a hike, clean up a trail, gaze at the stars, practice kindness, or donate in Cole’s honor to the American Hiking Society by clicking this link to his fundraising page.  **If the picture appears cut off, please rotate your device