Ski Patroller Dies, Seven Rescued in Separate Avalanches

Tom Darby

MAMMOTH LAKES, Cal. — A ski patroller has died following an avalanche that occurred during early morning safety operations at Mammoth Mountain, resort and county officials confirmed.

The avalanche happened around 7:30 a.m. on December 26 while Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol was conducting routine avalanche mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain, before the resort opened to the public. Two ski patrollers were caught and buried in the slide.

Both patrollers were quickly rescued and transported to Mammoth Hospital. Initial reports indicated one suffered serious injuries and was transferred out of the area for advanced medical care, while the other received an evaluation for possible broken bones.

In a later update, Mammoth Mountain confirmed that one of the injured patrollers died as a result of the accident. On December 28, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office identified the patroller as Cole Murphy.

Mammoth Mountain reported more than five feet of snowfall since December 23, creating unstable and hazardous conditions across the mountain. Out of caution, the resort remained closed following the incident while safety teams assessed conditions. No guests were involved in the avalanche.

In a separate incident, Mono County Search and Rescue responded to a large avalanche Saturday morning, December 27, in the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area, a popular backcountry destination roughly three hours south of Reno.

Around 11 a.m., rescuers were alerted to a D3-sized avalanche near Latopie Lake involving a group of seven snowmobilers, with one person fully buried.

Members of the group were able to dig the individual out before rescuers arrived. Due to the severity of the injuries, a Battle Born Medevac helicopter from Carson City airlifted the injured snowmobiler to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, a Level II trauma center.

Mono County Search and Rescue established a base at Bryant Field in Bridgeport and deployed volunteers using powder-capable rescue sleds. A California Highway Patrol helicopter from Fresno also responded but was released once crews confirmed there were no additional injured or missing individuals.

The remaining snowmobilers were able to exit the area on their own.