Skier Dies After Fall on Expert Terrain at Mammoth Mountain
A skier has died following a serious accident on a steep, expert-only run at Mammoth Mountain, resort officials confirmed.
According to Mammoth Mountain, ski patrol responded around 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after receiving reports of a severe fall in Dropout Chute 2. The run is a double–black diamond, ungroomed chute accessed from Chair 23 and is known for its narrow lines, exposed rock, and high consequence terrain.
Patrollers provided emergency medical care at the scene before transporting the skier to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, the individual later died from their injuries. The skier’s identity has not been released.
Witnesses who said they saw the incident shared accounts online, describing the crash as extremely violent. Several reported that the skier lost a ski and slid head-first before striking rocks within the chute.
The fatality is the fourth reported death of the 2025–26 season at Mammoth. In December, longtime ski patroller Cole Murphy was killed in an avalanche while off duty, a loss that deeply impacted the Mammoth community.
