Skier becomes fourth death at Mammoth Mountain this winter

A skier was killed Thursday after attempting an expert run from the top of California’s 11,000-foot Mammoth Mountain, marking the fourth death at the resort this season.

The unidentified thrill-seeker died on Dropout 2, a notorious trail that plunges about 1,200 vertical feet and ranks among the steepest in California, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Thursday’s fatal plunge adds to the grim toll that includes a snowboarder on Climax Bowl in December, a skier caught in an avalanche on Cornice Bowl in January, and another who lost control on Devil’s Slide last month — all taking on Mammoth Mountain’s 3,100 vertical feet of steep, heart-pounding terrain.

The peak has the longest seasons on Earth — often running from November through July — boasting over 400 inches of snow a year.

A chilling Reddit thread, launched by someone who said they witnessed the fatal fall, described the violent incident on the mountain’s steep chutes.

The person claimed the skier appeared to attempt a jump off rocks, struck another outcropping on landing and lost his skis, sliding headfirst down the slope before hitting his head on a rock.

The skier slid roughly 150 yards while unconscious, leaving a visible blood trail as a companion screamed for help and tried to catch up, according to the witness.

Ski patrol later shut down the area and were seen performing CPR, while a distraught family member reportedly spoke on the phone nearby, according to the witness.

Raymond John Albert Jr. — ‘Every Day Ray’

Raymond John Albert Jr. was known to his friends as ‘Every Day Ray’ — for the simple fact that he was known for skiing nearly every day. The 71-year-old regularly commuted from Bishop to Mammoth Mountain to get his runs in.

But on Christmas Day 2025, he was found unconscious in deep snow off the Hully Gully trail. Ski patrol responded at 12:45 p.m., performing CPR and using an automated external defibrillator before Albert was transported to Mammoth Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In a Facebook post, friends remember him as a man who “loved America and Fox News” and felt most at home in the quiet corners of the mountain, adding he died doing what he loved. 

Albert had a condo in Mammoth before moving to Bishop.

Patrick Bernard of Mammoth Lakes described Albert as a “carpenter, greenthumb, good guy,” noting he “drove up pretty much daily and lived up to his name ‘til the end.”

Cole Murphy

Just a day after Albert Jr.’s fatal run, Cole Murphy, a Mammoth Mountain ski patrol officer, was critically injured in an avalanche while conducting mitigation work on Lincoln Mountain around 7:30 a.m.

Murphy and a colleague were caught in the slide; his partner suffered possible broken bones, while Murphy was airlifted to Reno with life-threatening injuries.

On Sunday, Dec. 28, Mammoth Mountain confirmed that Murphy had died. Murphy, an experienced patroller with several years on the job, was described by his family as devoted to the mountains, calling them his “place of purpose” and “second home.” 

“The mountain was where Cole felt most alive. It was his place of purpose, his community, and his second home. Serving on ski patrol wasn’t just a role for him—it was a calling,” his family wrote in a statement.

Sebastian Celaya Salcido

On Jan. 14, Sebastian Celaya Salcido, 25, suffered a catastrophic snowboarding accident on Mammoth Mountain. He was airlifted to Reno with irreversible brain damage and died two days later.

Authorities confirmed he had been riding at the resort’s popular terrain when the incident occurred.

Salcido, a registered organ donor, gave the “gift of life” to other families in his final act, his family shared .

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support his family with medical and funeral expenses and to assist his younger sister’s college tuition — which raised around $50,000. Salcido worked as People Operations Associate at PIMCO, an investment management firm in Los Angeles.

“Sebastian was a bright light in the lives of so many. A devoted son and brother, a loving and proud dog dad, and an incredible, irreplaceable friend to all who knew him,” his family wrote.

His death came just weeks before another frightening incident at Mammoth: a 12-year-old girl dangled from a ski lift on Jan. 31 before plunging towards the snow. She was not injured.

Mountain staff rushed to help, setting up padding and a safety net below to catch her. The girl missed most of the net and crashed hard into the ground.

The video, which was first posted Facebook by a bystander, included the caption, “I wasn’t going to post this, but I know so many people who argue with me about putting the bar down. It’s mandatory in Europe, and it should be here.”

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