Eric Murakami

started his ski patrol career in 1997 while attending the University of Utah. At a young age, he knew he wanted to be a ski patroller after watching the patrollers at Snowbird conduct avalanche mitigation and assist injured skiers. His passion for avalanche forecasting developed early in his career while working alongside Little Cottonwood legends such as Liam Fitzgerald, Peter Schory, and Randy Trover. One of his most memorable experiences is from the 2022/2023 winter season when Snowbird recorded nearly 900 inches of snow, leading to a long season of avalanche mitigation work and challenges that impacted the ski area, Snowbird Village, and the Little Cottonwood Canyon Highway. When not working at Snowbird, he enjoys spending time with his family at their cabin in Driggs, Idaho, fly fishing and mountain biking. His most recent read is The Darkest White, the fascinating story of legendary snowboarder Craig Kelly and the avalanche that led to his death.