The ski community is mourning the loss of 30-year-old Cole Murphy, a dedicated member of Mammoth Mountain‘s ski patrol team, who passed away from injuries sustained in an avalanche on December 26.
The incident occurred early that morning on Lincoln Mountain, as patrol teams were carrying out essential avalanche control operations before the resort opened to the public. Murphy and another patroller were caught in the slide during a powerful storm cycle that had dumped over five feet of fresh snow on the Eastern Sierra in recent days.
Despite a rapid response from fellow patrollers and medical teams, Murphy succumbed to his injuries over the weekend. The second patroller involved underwent surgery and is now recovering.
In a heartfelt statement shared through the resort, Murphy’s family described him as someone who lived with kindness and purpose, noting that the mountains were his true home and that patrolling was more than a job—it was his calling.
Mammoth Mountain remained closed through Saturday to allow for thorough hazard mitigation, reopening Sunday with limited operations on lower-mountain lifts.