Colin Drew Sutton

COLIN DREW SUTTON (DURAND) Colin was tragically taken from us in a powerful avalanche, embraced by the snow he loved, on March 4 high in the San Juan Mountains. He was on duty as a Ski Patrolman and as a snow analyst for Wolf Creek Ski Area's new back-country heli-skiing program. He was deeply loved and cherished by his Santa Fe family, his mother Connie and step-dad of 35 years Albert Durand; by his Durango family Doug and Vanna Sutton and his Aspen family, brother and sister in law, Bjorn and Brook Sutton. Along his 39 year path he also formed incredible bonds with his many amigos that each call him "my best friend", and was equally loved by his Sutton & Durand aunts, uncles and cousins. He was loved and in love with Wolf Creek Ski Patrolwoman, the spunky, straight talking, lovely Megan English. Colin graduated Santa Fe High in 1994 with his closest friends Ryan Dodge, Kevin Brennan, Willie Mushen, Ryan Helean, Andy Byers, & Rob Menefee.....He was schooled in the great outdoors of Durango, Pagosa, Santa Fe, and Boulder where he graduated from CU with degrees in International Relations and Environmental Studies. Collie, "Sutt" to his friends, was an intrepid traveler, studying a year in Spain, walking the entire 800 km of the Camino Santiago, & journeying in Portugal, Italy, Morocco, France, England, & Ireland. He traveled solo through Eastern Europe from Poland to Slovenia & Greece through the Balkans, & sailed 1,000 miles up the Inland Passage to Alaska with his mom. He worked a year in Costa Rica for the College of Boston Sustainable Development program as a professor's associate and village liaison; and was a Ski Guide in the wild mountains of Peru and Argentina. But he always returned to his home base in southwest Colorado & Santa Fe. He was a full time professional Ski Patroller at Wolf Creek for 12 years, a National Ski Patrol Member, Basic Life Support and CPR Provider, Outdoor Emergency Care Provider, Certified Emergency Medical Technician, certified avalanche technician, State of Colorado Type I Explosives Permit Holder, and a Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment Qualified Dog Handler with his devoted black Labrador "Boca". Always claiming to be a student, Colin was a man of few words, a precise oarsman, soft spoken teacher, gracious guide, fluent in Spanish, shockingly good swing dancer, and stubbornly loyal ....an extraordinary spirit. We learned many lessons from "Sutt", namely, to always keep your sleeping bag and pad in the truck. Be not afraid of silence, as we learn a lot from the wind, rapids and creatures that surround us. Save enough food from dinner to have it for lunch the next day. Never sit carelessly in the desert sun, seek shade...wear your sombrero. Don't bother replacing your flipflops until both toe straps are blown. Answer a text message with a phone call. Tread lightly and silently, enjoy each sunset, use a headlamp sparingly, be observant. He was truly happy in mind, spirit, body and life. Son, brother, uncle, lover, amigo, you will be dearly missed and forever remembered, storied around our campfires and toasted on our continued journey. Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. [ME Frye via our dear friend Jack Ellis]