"Mammoth ski patrollers, like many ski patrols across the West, are experts in avalanche mitigation, and decision making about when and how to intentionally release avalanches is made based on decades of experience and observations. As a ski patroller, I know that there are many aspects of the job that must be continually refined and mastered over the course of many years."
"Even with tremendous personal experience and institutional knowledge, avalanche mitigation is an extremely dangerous task, requiring courageous ski patrollers to put themselves directly in the jaws of "The White Dragon," on days when forecast centers tell everyone that it would be wise to stay home. Murphy's death is a heartbreaking reminder of the risks of avalanche mitigation work and ski patrolling."
Cole Murphy, an experienced Mammoth Ski Patroller, died from injuries sustained in an in-bounds avalanche while patrollers mitigated risks after more than 60 inches of snow fell in three days. Ski patrollers are avalanche mitigation experts whose decisions to intentionally release avalanches rely on decades of field experience and observations. Decades of experience across many storm cycles are necessary to build understanding of the rare, larger releases that occur in roughly five percent of cases. Avalanche mitigation remains extremely dangerous even for seasoned patrollers, who often enter hazardous terrain to protect the public. Ski patrols across the West face retention problems as low wages and expensive mountain living push experienced staff away, and unions are advocating for compensation that rewards long-term experience.
Read at SnowBrains
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