Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller Dies Following Avalanche During Mitigation Efforts

Claire Murphy succumbed to injuries sustained in a Valentine’s Day avalanche after a severe Sierra snowstorm dumped six feet of snow in 36 hours.

Claire Murphy, a Mammoth Mountain ski patroller, was conducting avalanche mitigation on Lincoln Mountain when the avalanche struck on February 14, 2025.
The avalanche occurred in a closed-off area known as The Avy Chutes, following a significant atmospheric river storm in the Sierra Nevada region.
Murphy was seriously injured and transported to a Nevada trauma center, where she passed away on February 22, 2025, according to resort officials.
Her colleague, who was also caught in the avalanche, was rescued uninjured, and other ski patrollers used beacon technology to aid in the rescue efforts.
The tragedy has drawn widespread support from the ski community, with patrollers from other resorts stepping in to assist at Mammoth Mountain during this difficult time.