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2mo ago

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.

Workers shovel snow during a Feb. 13 storm at Mammoth Mountain in the Sierra Nevada. The storm dumped 6 feet of snow in 36 hours on the ski area. 
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Workers plow snow during a Feb. 13 storm at Mammoth Mountain in the Sierra Nevada. Two ski patrollers were caught in an avalanche there on Feb. 14, and one has died.  
Snow falls on ski lifts during a Feb. 13 storm at Mammoth Mountain in the Sierra Nevada. A ski patroller has died of her injuries suffered in a Feb. 14 avalanche.

Overview

  • 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.