TWO COLORADO COLLEGE STUDENTS VANISH IN SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS AS SEARCHERS FIND COLLAPSED TENT
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, have been missing since leaving for a hiking trip on October 23. Their vehicle and camping equipment have been found, but neither student has been located.
A desperate search is underway in Colorado for two college students who disappeared during a planned mountain hike, after rescuers discovered their tent collapsed beneath heavy snow with sleeping bags, clothing and a camping stove still inside.
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus, left on Friday, October 23, for a trip in Chaffee County. Friends and family told authorities that the pair planned to hike Ice Mountain and expected to return by Saturday or Sunday, depending on conditions.
When the students failed to return, college staff contacted the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, October 26, prompting a search operation. Deputies later located Matsuda’s vehicle near the Mount Huron trailhead, an access point commonly used by hikers heading toward the area.
COLLAPSED TENT FOUND — BUT THE STUDENTS WERE GONE
The search took a worrying turn on Tuesday, October 27, when a helicopter spotted an object near Lake Ann. A team sent to investigate discovered the hikers’ tent, which had collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow.
Inside were sleeping bags, clothing and a camping stove. However, neither student was at the campsite.
Authorities also reported no visible footprints around the tent. Investigators have not established where the young men went after leaving the campsite or whether they continued toward their intended destination.
Officials have also considered the possibility that the students were heading somewhere other than Ice Mountain.
HEAVY SNOW AND DANGEROUS TERRAIN COMPLICATE SEARCH
The weather has made the operation increasingly difficult. Around eight inches of snow was reported near the trailhead, while Ice Mountain received considerably more. Drifting snow has reportedly accumulated to depths of three to four feet in some locations.
Rain and snowfall have left parts of the mountain icy, with snow-covered boulder fields and steep terrain creating serious challenges for rescuers. Some areas are difficult or nearly impossible to reach safely on foot, while the terrain limits where helicopters can land.
Search teams have used helicopters, drones, search dogs and aircraft equipped with infrared technology. Approximately 50 searchers were initially deployed, with crews from multiple agencies assisting in the effort.
Authorities also examined information from the students’ cellphones. Reports indicated that neither phone had been used for at least 48 hours. However, officials cautioned that cellular coverage in the area is extremely limited and the students may have switched off their devices to conserve battery power.
FAMILIES HOLD ONTO HOPE
Matsuda, who is from Ridgway, Colorado, is studying to become a wildland firefighter. Donlon, who is from New York, is pursuing training to become a mountain guide. Friends and family have described both men as experienced hikers who were expected to have appropriate clothing for their trip.
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the search remained active and expressed hope that the students might have found shelter while waiting for help.
The sheriff has also warned that another period of poor weather expected later in the week could narrow the window for search crews to reach difficult areas.
For the families and friends awaiting news, the uncertainty is agonizing. Rescuers continue working through hazardous mountain conditions in the hope of finding Kaden and Jackson.
The two students remain missing, and authorities have not confirmed what happened to them. The search is ongoing.
