Ski Patroller Dies After Avalanche At Mammoth Mountain

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA — A ski patroller who was seriously injured in an avalanche Friday at Mammoth Mountain has died, the resort announced Sunday.

Mammoth Mountain, in a social media post, described 30-year-old Cole Murphy as “an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career.”

Murphy was one of two patrollers rescued Friday morning after the avalanche hit while the resort's ski patrol was performing avalanche mitigation work around Lincoln Mountain, according to Mammoth Mountain. Both patrollers were taken to local hospitals, although the other patroller’s injuries were not initially reported to be as severe as Murphy’s.

In a statement shared by the resort, Murphy’s family said he “moved through the world with kindness, intention, and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose” and left behind a beloved partner, Hayley.

“The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community, and his second home. Serving on ski patrol wasn't just a role for him—it was a calling,” the statement said.

The avalanche followed a powerful atmospheric river that brought heavy rain, wind and snowfall to California last week. The storm caused flash flooding in cities like Los Angeles and avalanches in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, where Mammoth Mountain is located.

Mammoth Mountain officials said Friday the area had received over five feet of snow since Tuesday.