‘A calling, not just a job’: Mammoth Mountain, family mourn ski patroller’s death

A California ski patroller who was injured during avalanche control work on Friday has died, the resort announced.

Cole Murphy was one of two Mammoth Mountain resort patrollers caught in a slide while conducting avalanche mitigation about 7:30 a.m. on Lincoln Mountain. Both were transported for medical care; Murphy died from his injuries over the weekend.

“Cole Murphy, 30, was an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career,” the resort said in a statement Sunday.

Murphy is the second Mammoth ski patroller to die this year during avalanche control. In February, Claire Murphy, who was not related to Cole, died after a similar incident on the same run. The 25-year-old was one of two patrollers working to clear snow from runs known as “the avy chutes,” when they were caught in a sudden slide.

One of the patrollers escaped without serious injury; Claire Murphy was transported to a hospital in Reno and died a week later.

Cole Murphy’s family said the mountain was where he “felt most alive,” describing ski patrol as a calling, not just a job. “That brotherhood meant more to him than words can ever express,” the family wrote in a message shared by the resort.

His partner, Hayley, was “at the center of Cole’s heart,” the statement continued. “Their love was built on adventure, laughter, and a connection that ran deep.”

Hundreds expressed their condolences in social media 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.

Heavy snowfall from a Christmas Day storm forced Mammoth Mountain to close on Friday and Saturday due to elevated avalanche risk. The resort reopened Sunday with limited terrain.

No additional details were released about the second patroller involved in Friday’s incident, though the resort previously said they underwent surgery and are recovering.

Murphy’s death comes during one of the most active avalanche periods in recent memory in the Sierra Nevada, following storms that dropped more than 5 feet of snow since Christmas Eve.

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this story.

This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 1:28 PM.