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Olivia Buchanan of Durango died Tuesday after getting caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing on Kendall Mountain, San Juan County Coroner Keri Metzler confirmed Wednesday morning.
The avalanche that took place southwest of Silverton is Colorado’s second fatal avalanche in a week, said Scott Toepher of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
Buchanan, who had been washed into a stand of trees Tuesday, had been found and rescue teams were working to get her to a hospital when she died of her injuries Tuesday night, Toepfer said.
She was part of a group that was descending the Rabbit Ears (Arcade) avalanche path, Toepfer said. Officials said the avalanche happened on part of a gully that is below treeline (around 11,000 feet) and faces northwest.
An investigation is ongoing, Toepfer said, as to how events played out during and before the avalanche.
Last week, in Clear Creek County near Torreys Peak on Dec 31.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez
