Skier who passed away in Mammoth Mountain accident named

Skier Identified in Fatal Fall at Mammoth Mountain

MAMMOTH, Calif. — Authorities have confirmed the identity of the skier who tragically fell to his death at the notorious Mammoth Mountain ski area.

Robert Carroll, a 40-year-old resident of California, passed away on the mountain last week, as stated by the Mono County Sheriff’s Department. Carroll was navigating the steep Dropout Chute 2, which is widely recognized as one of the most challenging trails in California, when he lost control.

“Rob was always ready to travel and seek out new adventures,” shared his friend Matt Weil with the California Post. Most of Carroll’s friends affectionately referred to him as “Rob.”

Weil mentioned that Carroll had a passion for exploration, noting some of his remarkable feats—he had climbed El Capitan in Yosemite and embarked on several rafting journeys through the Grand Canyon and along the Colorado River. But, above all, he cherished the time spent with friends in their everyday lives.

“Rob was a larger-than-life figure; to everyone who knew him, he’ll never be forgotten,” Weil continued.

A user on Reddit offered a chilling account of the incident, describing Carroll’s death as the “worst thing” they had ever witnessed on the mountain.

“It looked like he had removed his ski higher up in a steep moguls chute, maybe about 15 yards from where he fell. It wasn’t clear if he had a helmet on. He slid headfirst down the slope, and his head struck a rock,” the post relayed.

“He continued to slide unconscious for another 150 yards, leaving a trail of blood as his skiing partner screamed and tried to catch up, even jumping on him to stop his fall.”

Carroll was described by Weil as someone who had a deep love for skiing and had been visiting Mammoth for many years, often blending his interests in mountaineering and skiing by both climbing and skiing down the mountains.

“He was an adventurer who always wore a helmet and was pursuing his pilot’s license. Safety was always a priority for him—he checked his gear constantly. He took risks seriously but enjoyed every moment outdoors,” Weil reflected.

In a somber note, this incident marks the fourth fatality at Mammoth this winter. Earlier incidents included a snowboarder’s death at Climax Bowl in December, a skier killed in an avalanche at Cornice Bowl in January, and another skier losing control on Devil’s Slide in January.