Claire Murphy, a ski patroller at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, has passed away following serious injuries sustained during an avalanche on February 14, 2025. The incident occurred around 11:30 AM on Lincoln Mountain, where Murphy and another patroller were performing avalanche mitigation work after nearly six feet of snow fell due to a severe Sierra snowstorm.
According to Mammoth Mountain officials, the avalanche struck when the area was closed to the public. The patrollers were working to clear the snow to prevent future avalanches when they were caught by the slide, which began in the area known as “The Avy Chutes.” While her colleague was recovered uninjured, Murphy was transported first to Mammoth Hospital and later transferred to Reno, Nevada, for specialized trauma care.
Initially, the resort reported her condition as “extremely” serious. Sadly, after battling injuries for over a week, she succumbed to her injuries, prompting heartfelt tributes from the community and fellow ski patrollers.