"Mammoth Mountain will operate with significantly reduced lift and terrain access on Wednesday, December 31, as the resort pauses to honor the life of ski patroller Cole Murphy, who died last week after being caught in an inbounds avalanche during mitigation work. In a statement released Tuesday, December 30, Mammoth Mountain said operations on New Year's Eve will be limited to the lower mountain only, with Canyon and Eagle Lodges opening first and Main Lodge delayed."
"Murphy, 30, died from injuries sustained on Friday, December 26, while conducting avalanche control work on Lincoln Mountain amid a powerful Sierra Nevada storm cycle. He was one of two patrollers caught in the slide before the resort opened for the day. A second patroller suffered minor injuries and was treated on site. Mammoth Mountain closed operations on December 26 and 27 following the incident, citing widespread avalanche danger after more than five feet of snowfall combined with strong winds."
"In confirming Murphy's death on Sunday, the resort described him as "an experienced patroller with a deep passion for the mountains and a love for his career." Colleagues remembered him for his professionalism, leadership, and commitment to snow safety. His family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the Mammoth community. The tragedy marked the second fatal inbounds avalanche involving a Mammoth patroller in less than a year. A veteran ski patroller died in a similar incident on Lincoln Mountain in February 2025."
Mammoth Mountain will operate with significantly reduced lifts and terrain on Wednesday, December 31, limiting access to the lower mountain with Canyon and Eagle Lodges opening first and Main Lodge delayed. The resort paused major operations to allow many team members to attend memorial services for ski patroller Cole Murphy, who died December 26 after being caught in an inbounds avalanche while conducting avalanche control on Lincoln Mountain. A second patroller suffered minor injuries. The resort closed December 26–27 due to widespread avalanche danger after more than five feet of snow and strong winds; limited operations resumed December 28.
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