It's unfortunately official, a ski patroller died as a result of a avalanche near Lincoln Mountain in the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. This occurred on Thursday, December 25th, 2025. This was the only day the Mountain was open during the 12/24-12/26 storm cycle. Here is a copy of the L.A. Times article on the incident"
One of two members of a Mammoth Mountain ski patrol who were caught in an avalanche after a major snowstorm has died, the resort announced.
On Sunday afternoon, Mammoth Mountain identified the ski patrol member as Cole Murphy, 30, describing him as “an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career.”
At about 7:30 a.m. Friday, before the resort opened, the pair were performing “avalanche mitigation work” when a sudden slide occurred on Lincoln Mountain, according to Joani Lynch, vice president for marketing and sales.
The two were rescued and immediately taken to Mammoth Hospital, Lynch said.
“One patroller sustained serious injuries and is being transported out of the area for further care,” she said at the time. “The second patroller is being evaluated with possible broken bones.”
In the social media post two days after the avalanche, the resort announced Murphy’s death was due to injuries sustained in the accident.
“The mountain is where Cole felt most alive,” his family said in a statement included in the post. They added, “Serving on ski patrol wasn’t just a role for him — it was a calling.”
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The family said his partner, Hayley, was “[a]t the center of Cole’s heart,” and said he “moved through the world with kindness, intention and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose.”
Hundreds expressed their condolences in the comments.
“Our hearts are broken💔 sending all of our love to Cole’s loved ones, Mammoth patrol, and the entire Mammoth community 🦣❤️,” wrote Palisades Tahoe, a ski resort in Lake Tahoe.
Murphy’s death marks the second on Lincoln Mountain in less than a year.
The mountain, known for its steep slopes, was the site of another fatal accident in February, when another pair of ski patrollers, who were trying to clear snow from runs known as “the avy chutes,” got caught in a sudden slide.
California
One of the patrollers escaped without serious injury
One of two members of a Mammoth Mountain ski patrol who were caught in an avalanche after a major snowstorm has died, the resort announced.
On Sunday afternoon, Mammoth Mountain identified the ski patrol member as Cole Murphy, 30, describing him as “an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career.”
At about 7:30 a.m. Friday, before the resort opened, the pair were performing “avalanche mitigation work” when a sudden slide occurred on Lincoln Mountain, according to Joani Lynch, vice president for marketing and sales.
The two were rescued and immediately taken to Mammoth Hospital, Lynch said.
“One patroller sustained serious injuries and is being transported out of the area for further care,” she said at the time. “The second patroller is being evaluated with possible broken bones.”
In the social media post two days after the avalanche, the resort announced Murphy’s death was due to injuries sustained in the accident.
“The mountain is where Cole felt most alive,” his family said in a statement included in the post. They added, “Serving on ski patrol wasn’t just a role for him — it was a calling.”
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The family said his partner, Hayley, was “[a]t the center of Cole’s heart,” and said he “moved through the world with kindness, intention and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose.”
Hundreds expressed their condolences in the comments.
“Our hearts are broken💔 sending all of our love to Cole’s loved ones, Mammoth patrol, and the entire Mammoth community 🦣❤️,” wrote Palisades Tahoe, a ski resort in Lake Tahoe.
Murphy’s death marks the second on Lincoln Mountain in less than a year.
The mountain, known for its steep slopes, was the site of another fatal accident in February, when another pair of ski patrollers, who were trying to clear snow from runs known as “the avy chutes,” got caught in a sudden slide.
California
Ski patroller caught in Mammoth Mountain avalanche dies of her injuries, officials say
Feb. 22, 2025One of the patrollers escaped without serious injury
