Olivia Buchanan Obituary

Olivia Grace Buchanan, 23, died from injuries suffered in an avalanche on January 6, 2015 while skiing on Kendall Mountain in Silverton, Colorado.

Olivia was born on August 4, 1991 in Durango, CO, to Amy and Evan Buchanan. She grew up in Durango and attended Needham Elementary, Miller Middle School and Durango High School. During her senior year in high school she obtained her Level 1 and Level 2 Avalanche Certification.

Immediately upon graduation, she packed up her belongings and moved to Silverton, Colorado in her parents' 1970 Nomad trailer. During that year she explored the San Juan Mountains – skiing, hiking, and climbing. Charming and persistent, she secured an internship at the Silverton Avalanche School and soon impressed so many who couldn't believe that this young girl was so knowledgeable and interested in snow science.

This internship inspired Olivia to attend Montana State University and study Snow Geography. She wanted to further her education by earning her masters in teaching and psychology. She had recently written a mission statement to guide her education in which she wrote: "I personally want to use my learning to teach Avalanche Education. In the ever increasing world of backcountry skiing with more and more people dying every year, I want to learn how people make decisions, teach them how to make better decisions and save lives." Upon completing her education, her hope was to work and live in Silverton, Colorado.

Olivia's passion for life was matched by her passion for the outdoors. She was an avid skier, yoga enthusiast, writer, artist, knitter and climber. She was known for her playful spirit, her sense of adventure, her love for sharing experiences with others, and for being wise beyond her years.

Olivia is survived by her parents, Amy Myer Buchanan and Evan Buchanan and sister, Emma, of Durango, CO. The rest of her clan of close extended family includes grandfather Garth Buchanan of Durango, CO, grandmother Nancy Graham of Mesa, AZ, aunt Cynthia Myer and cousins Drew, Paige, and Graham Brookie of Durango, CO, aunt Barbara Myer and cousin Eleanor Myer of Charlottesville, VA, and uncle and aunt Rees and Lisa Buchanan and cousins Brittany Mytko and Grant Buchanan of Phoenix, AZ. She is preceded in death by her grandmother, Sue Buchanan, and her grandfather, George Myer, both of Durango, CO. She is also survived by her extraordinary group of friends far and wide, young and old, and from all walks of life.

Olivia's life has inspired her family and friends to further endorse the pursuit of adventure in the mountains. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Olivia's honor to provide avalanche education for female outdoor enthusiasts, can be made to the Community Foundation, 'The Olivia Buchanan Avalanche Education Fund,' P.O. Box 1673, Durango, CO 81302 or www.swcommunityfoundation.org.

We will celebrate Olivia's life on March 8, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Kendall Mountain Center in Silverton, CO.