HEARTBREAK IN COLORADO: TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS FOUND DEAD AFTER DISAPPEARING DURING MOUNTAIN HIKE
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, left campus for a weekend hiking trip on October 23. After days of searching through deep snow and dangerous mountain terrain, rescuers located their bodies near West Apostle Mountain.
A desperate search for two missing college students in the Colorado mountains has ended in tᩚraɢedy after both young men were found deceased.
Kaden Matsuda, 19, from Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, from New York, were students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus.
The pair left campus on Friday, October 23, for a hiking trip in Chaffee County. They had planned to attempt Ice Mountain and told friends they would return on Saturday if conditions felt unsafe, or Sunday if they decided to continue.
But neither student returned.
On October 28, after several days of searching in increasingly dangerous weather conditions, authorities confirmed that both men had been located in a basin near West Apostle Mountain.
Their families and friends were left facing the devastating news.
THEIR LAST PLANNED HIKE
Friends and family told investigators that Matsuda and Donlon were experienced outdoorsmen who understood the risks of mountain travel.
The two had shared a map with friends indicating Ice Mountain as their intended destination, along with the Mount Huron trailhead area.
When the students failed to return, Colorado Mountain College staff contacted the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning, October 26.
Deputies located Matsuda’s vehicle near the Mount Huron trailhead, giving search teams an important starting point.
The search quickly became complicated by severe weather. Rain had fallen in the area before a major snowfall covered parts of the mountain.
Officials reported approximately eight inches of snow near the vehicle, while Ice Mountain received between one and two feet. In some places, drifting snow reached three to four feet.
The conditions made an already difficult technical climb extremely dangerous.
A COLLAPSED TENT BECAME A CRUCIAL CLUE
During the search, rescuers discovered the students’ tent near Lake Ann.
It had collapsed beneath the weight of the snow. Inside were sleeping bags, a camping stove and clothing, but neither young man was there.
Investigators also learned that neither student’s cellphone had been used for at least 48 hours. Officials noted that mobile service in the remote area was extremely limited, meaning the lack of phone activity did not necessarily reveal what had happened.
Search crews used helicopters, aircraft equipped with infrared technology, drones, search dogs and ground teams.
More than 60 search and rescue personnel and volunteers took part in the operation.
Despite the extensive efforts, the students remained missing as dangerous mountain conditions continued to challenge rescuers.
THEIR BODIES WERE FOUND NEAR WEST APOSTLE MOUNTAIN
On Wednesday afternoon, October 28, authorities located both students in a basin near West Apostle Mountain, approximately one mile from the tent.
According to the sheriff’s office, the discovery was made at around 3:30 p.m.
The area was extremely difficult to reach, with waist- to chest-deep snow, jagged cliffs, boulder fields and steep terrain.
Because conditions were too dangerous for an immediate recovery, crews had to wait before safely bringing the young men out.
Their bodies were eventually recovered by helicopter on Thursday, October 29, with assistance from ground search teams.
Authorities said there was no indication of foul play. The Chaffee County Coroner’s Office arranged for autopsies to be performed to help determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“OUR HEART ACHES FOR KADEN AND JACKSON”
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich shared an emotional message following the discovery.
“Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” he said.
The sheriff also praised the efforts of the search teams, acknowledging the difficult conditions they faced while trying to locate the students before another approaching storm.
He asked the public to respect the privacy of the families and friends as they begin grieving their loss.
Colorado Mountain College also expressed devastation, describing Kaden and Jackson as members of its close-knit community.
The Leadville campus, known for attracting students interested in outdoor careers and activities, was deeply affected by the loss of two young people who had been pursuing their ambitions in the mountains.
TWO YOUNG MEN WITH DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE
Kaden was studying wildland firefighting, while Jackson was pursuing outdoor recreation and mountain-related studies.
Both had interests that reflected their love of the outdoors and their ambitions to build careers in environments where mountain knowledge and experience mattered.
Friends and family had described them as capable hikers who were familiar with the challenges of outdoor adventures.
Their trip was supposed to be a weekend journey. Instead, it became a heartbreaking loss for two families and an entire college community.
The search has ended, but the questions surrounding their final hours remain as investigators and the coroner work to establish what happened.
Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were just 19 and 20 years old. Their futures held so much possibility, and their loss has left their families, friends and classmates grieving. May they both rest in peace. 🕊️🤍
