MMSPAA Commemorates the 20th Anniversary of Tragic Accident

The Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Alumni Association (MMSPAA) partnered with the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol to host a 20th Anniversary Gathering commemorating the loss of three ski patrollers. The event took place at the ski area Sunday, April 5, through Tuesday, April 7.

On April 6, 2006, Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol lost James Juarez, John Scott McAndrews, and Charles Walter Rosenthal when they were digging out fencing around a fumerole or volcanic opening hidden under heavy snowfall. Two fell into the gap and one was killed in a rescue attempt. All three died from inhaling volcanic gases. Rosenthal was a 25-year ski patrol veteran, a specialist in avalanche forecasting, and President of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center, which he helped to found. Juarez had patrolled five years, and McAndrews was in his first patrol year, having been awarded “Rookie of the Year” just before his death.

To honor these three, as well as ski patrol alumni who have passed away and other patrollers who have given their lives in making the mountain safe, 207 alumni, current patrollers, and family members gathered on the morning of April 6, 2026, at Top of the World. After a recognition, participants socialized at a barbeque at Chair 10 parking lot.

In the evening an overwhelming 300 alumni, current patrollers, out-of-town patrollers, and community members attended “A Night of Rememberance” at the Grizzly Theater at Canyon Lodge. The program, MCed by Ski Patrol Manager Scott Donaghey, included speakers Bobby Hoyt, Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Director; Dan Flynn, former Ski Patrol Manager; patroller Josh Feinberg; Eric Clarke, CEO of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area; Neil Satterfield, Ski Patrol Manager and MMSPAA board member; and Ian Scott, President of the MMSPAA.

“What was really cool,” commented Scott, “was that members of various patrol groups from Tahoe resorts came down for the event.”

Feinberg presented a slide show honoring Sara Johanna Carlsson, who died off-duty in a 2006 avalanche outside the ski area. Satterfield and Scott paid tribute to Dick (“Gremlin”) Dahlgren, namesake of the “Gremlin’s Gulch” run, who was in the first group of paid patrollers at Mammoth Mountain. The third slide show memorialized the 83 ski patrol alumni who have passed away since the late 1940s. The evening event also included an open mic.

Satterfield observed that the crowd was testament to “the overwhelming outreach from the community of Mammoth Lakes coming up to offer support for all.”

Participants spent the following day skiing together. During the day, event participants witnessed the expertise of their patrol peers firsthand when Chair 5 needed to be evacuated. Ropes were looped over the haul rope, and skiers were seated on a post with a rope under their arms in order to be lowered to the snow.

Thanks for success of the event go out to CEO Eric Clarke, the Mammoth Lakes Ski Area, the speakers and MC mentioned above, Logan Falkel, Brett Hampf, Lucie and Sierra Hladik, Treve Jones, Jerry Magner, Terry Maier, Bill Medove, Gerard Oliveira, Scott Quirsfeld, and Sandy Seale and to the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol for the evacuation.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. The organization’s mission is to support the education and qualifications of current Ski Patrol members and raise emergency funds for members injured on the job, and to celebrate the history and unique ski culture of Mammoth Mountain and the contributions of Ski Patrol members, who put their lives on the line to make skiing the mountain a safe and exciting experience.

Donations to MMSPAA efforts to support ski patrollers and alumni can be made on the organization’s website: https://www.mmspaa.org/donate

MMSPAA board members include President Ian Scott, Vice President Travis Gilbert, Treasurer Treve Jones, Secretary Neil Satterfield, and Sargent of Arms Kyle Williams. For more information, please contact [email protected].

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