A 30-year-old ski patroller described by his family as having a "wholehearted devotion" to the mountains has died from injuries sustained in an avalanche at Mammoth Mountain.
Cole Murphy was conducting avalanche mitigation work on the morning of Dec. 26 when he was caught in a slide on Lincoln Mountain, according to a
statement released by the resort Sunday.
The avalanche occurred around 7:30 a.m. Friday, prior to the ski area opening to the public. The resort said Murphy and another patroller were swept up in the slide. Both were immediately transported to Mammoth Hospital.
While the second patroller was evaluated for possible broken bones, Murphy sustained serious injuries and was transported out of the area for additional care. On Sunday, resort officials confirmed that Murphy had passed away.
"Cole moved through the world with kindness, intention, and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose," Murphy’s family said in a
statement shared by the resort. "The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community, and his second home."
The avalanche occurred during a cycle of extreme weather for the Eastern Sierra resort, which is California’s
highest lift-served mountain with a summit of 11,053 feet.
Mammoth Mountain
reported receiving more than five feet of snow between Dec. 23 and Dec. 26. Following the incident, the resort closed for the remainder of Friday and remained closed through Saturday to allow patrol teams time to mitigate hazards across the mountain caused by heavy snowfall and high winds.
In their statement, Murphy’s family thanked the ski patrol team, noting that the "brotherhood meant more to him than words can ever express." They also highlighted his relationship with his partner, Hayley, describing her as "his steady place in the world."
"Serving on ski patrol wasn't just a role for him—it was a calling," the family said.
A
GoFundMe campaign titled "Support Cole Murphy’s Loved Ones" has been established to assist with living expenses and allow the family time to grieve. As of Monday night, donors have contributed more than $7,000 toward a $9,000 goal.
The resort reopened limited terrain on Dec. 28 and operated lower mountain lifts, including the Village Gondola and several express chairs. In an update, resort officials warned guests about the dangers of deep snow, specifically citing tree wells and snow immersion suffocation as "real hazards."
"During storm cycles like this, ‘no friends on a powder day’ needs to take a back seat," the resort advised in an
Instagram post, urging skiers to communicate constantly and avoid the base of trees.
The latest death marks a difficult period for the resort's patrol team. Resort officials
announced another avalanche-related death in February, when ski patroller Claire Murphy died following an avalanche on Lincoln Mountain in an area known as "The Avy Chutes." That accident also took place during mitigation work following a storm that dropped approximately six feet of snow in 36 hours.
Following the recent loss of Cole Murphy, the resort expressed its condolences on Sunday.
"Cole... was an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and love for his career," Mammoth Mountain stated.
His family added, "We find ourselves without the right words, but never without love."
