An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort resulted in the death of 30-year-old ski patroller Cole Murphy, and left another individual injured. The incident has raised concerns about safety at major ski resorts regarding weather and snow conditions.
While avalanches are a known risk in mountain environments, the incident prompted questions about how resorts monitor snow conditions and keep employees and guests safe. Mammoth Mountain, along with many other large ski resorts, uses avalanche forecasting, controlled explosive work, and terrain closures to reduce risk; but the tragedy brings attention to the limits of prevention in unpredictable conditions such as heavy snowfall.
“I was driving up to Mammoth when I first heard about the incident,” said junior Caroline Rackett. “When I had gotten there, a lot of people were sad, and when I would go to restaurants on the mountain and around the town a lot of people were talking about it. A lot of them on the mountain put up nice photos of him with his name, and everything.”
Ski patrollers play a crucial role in keeping the mountain safe, oftentimes putting themselves in danger to ensure safety on the mountain before it opens to the public. The loss of a potroller highlights the fact that even with immense safety protocols, avalanche control requires constant attention and observation from staff. Guests must remain cautious by checking weather conditions, and staying within designated, cleared areas.
“After this I think I’m definitely a little bit more cautious, and if there’s a warning in the future, I probably just won’t go out to ski that day,” said Rackett.
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