TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS FOUND DEAD AFTER COLORADO MOUNTAIN HIKE — INVESTIGATORS REVEAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT CAUSED THEIR FATAL FALL

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, had bonded over their shared love of climbing and the outdoors. After disappearing during a weekend mountain expedition, their bodies were discovered in a remote Colorado basin. Authorities have now revealed that a climbing anchor suffered a catastrophic failure, causing both young men to fall a substantial distance.

Two families are mourning the loss of two young men whose lives revolved around adventure, friendship and a deep love of the mountains.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus. They had left school on Friday, October 23, 2026, for what was supposed to be a weekend hiking and climbing trip in Chaffee County, Colorado.

They were expected to return over the weekend.

But when Monday arrived and neither student had returned, college staff contacted the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office to report them missing.

What followed was an extensive search through some of Colorado’s most challenging mountain terrain.

On Wednesday, October 28, search teams located the two young men deceased in a remote basin beneath West Apostle Mountain.

Their bodies were recovered the following day, Thursday, October 29, after difficult weather conditions delayed the operation.

Now, investigators have released the findings of their investigation, revealing that a catastrophic failure involving their climbing anchor system caused the fatal fall.

A WEEKEND ADVENTURE THAT TURNED INTO A SEARCH

Kaden and Jackson had originally planned to climb Ice Mountain, a towering peak in Colorado’s Sawatch Range.

Friends and family described them as experienced hikers who shared a passion for exploring the outdoors.

Before leaving, the pair had communicated their intended destination to friends, even sharing a map showing the area they planned to visit.

When they failed to return, authorities began investigating their last known movements.

Kaden’s vehicle was located near a trailhead associated with the planned expedition.

However, the surrounding area had already experienced difficult weather.

Rain had fallen as the pair began their journey, followed by a powerful winter storm that brought approximately one to two feet of snow to the region. Some areas accumulated even more because of drifting.

Search crews faced increasingly challenging conditions as they attempted to locate the missing students.

THE COLLAPSED TENT THAT GAVE SEARCHERS A CLUE

During the search, authorities discovered a collapsed tent near Lake Ann.

The discovery initially raised hopes that the two young men might be nearby.

Inside the tent, investigators found sleeping bags, a camping stove and clothing.

However, neither student was there.

Officials noted that the tent appeared to have collapsed beneath the weight of the snowfall.

The absence of visible footprints around the tent also suggested that it had been there before the heavy snow arrived.

More than 60 search-and-rescue personnel and volunteers participated in the operation, using helicopters, drones, search dogs and ground teams to cover the difficult terrain.

The search eventually expanded toward West Apostle Mountain.

On Wednesday afternoon, October 28, authorities located Kaden and Jackson in a snow-filled basin near the mountain.

Their bodies were found close to one another.

Because of the dangerous conditions and difficult access, rescuers could not immediately bring them down.

The recovery operation was completed on Thursday, October 29, with assistance from a helicopter.

INVESTIGATORS REVEAL THE CAUSE OF dєatᩚh

On Tuesday, November 3, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office released a joint statement detailing the findings of their investigation.

Autopsies determined that both students died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

Authorities said their deaths were instantaneous.

Investigators concluded that the young men had been rappelling when one of their climbing anchor points experienced what officials described as a “catastrophic failure of unknown cause.”

According to the investigation, Jackson was beginning to descend using a primary anchor point attached to a rock formation.

That anchor appeared to have additional protection from a metal piton and a secondary anchor attached to another rock surface.

Kaden was connected to the same anchor system through his personal anchor device.

Despite the backup points, the system failed.

Both young men fell a substantial distance.

Authorities have not determined the exact distance of the fall or the precise reason the anchor system failed.

Investigators also examined whether the severe snowstorm played a role.

While officials acknowledged that the weather may have affected conditions in the area, they stated that the storm was not a direct contributing factor in the deaths.

THE SHERIFF SAID THE TWO YOUNG MEN APPEARED WELL PREPARED

One of the most emotional parts of the official announcement came from Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich.

He acknowledged the extraordinary difficulty of delivering the news to two grieving families.

In many similar incidents, investigators can identify mistakes or decisions that contributed to a tᩚraɢedy.

But according to Rohrich, that was not what they found in this case.

He said the two students appeared to be prepared for their expedition and that investigators did not identify obvious errors in their actions.

“There are no right words to family and friends for a loss this heavy,” Rohrich said.

He also reflected on the young men’s shared passion for the mountains.

“While their lives were far too short, they spent their final moments together surrounded by the majestic beauty of Chaffee County’s high peaks that they loved.”

The sheriff added that there was some comfort in knowing neither student suffered.

KADEN MATSUDA, 19 — A YOUNG MAN WHO WANTED TO SERVE OTHERS

Kaden Matsuda was just 19 years old and came from Ridgway, Colorado.

He was studying at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus, where he was pursuing a future in wildland firefighting.

His ambition reflected his interest in the outdoors and his desire to work in a field that required courage, physical endurance and dedication.

Following high school, Kaden had already participated in service work.

Those who knew him remembered a young man with a strong connection to nature and a genuine enthusiasm for adventure.

He had much of his future still ahead of him.

His family and friends are now left remembering a young life filled with promise and possibilities.

JACKSON DONLON, 20 — A MOUNTAIN LOVER WHO FOLLOWED HIS PASSION

Jackson Donlon, 20, was originally from Queensbury, New York.

He had traveled to Colorado to pursue his passion for outdoor adventure and mountain exploration.

At Colorado Mountain College, he was studying outdoor recreation leadership.

Jackson was particularly interested in climbing and skiing, and his education reflected the life he wanted to build around the outdoors.

He and Kaden developed a close friendship through their shared interests and experiences at the Leadville campus.

Although they came from different parts of the country, the mountains brought them together.

Their friendship became an important part of their college experience.

The two ultimately embarked on their final expedition together.

A COLLEGE COMMUNITY MOURNS TWO STUDENTS

Colorado Mountain College released a heartfelt statement following the deaths of its students.

The school described Kaden and Jackson as kind-hearted and adventurous young men who shared a deep appreciation for the outdoors.

Their friendship had grown from a common passion for the mountains into a meaningful connection within the campus community.

The college said their loss had deeply affected students, faculty and staff.

The school also extended its condolences to their families and friends, emphasizing that they would be remembered for the positive energy and adventurous spirit they brought to those around them.

For classmates who had shared everyday moments with the two students, the news was especially difficult to accept.

They had left campus expecting to enjoy a weekend in the mountains.

They never returned.

TWO YOUNG LIVES REMEMBERED

Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were only 19 and 20 years old.

They were students with ambitions, friends who enjoyed exploring the world and young men who had found a shared sense of belonging through their love of the mountains.

Their deaths have left two families grieving and a college community struggling with an enormous loss.

The investigation has provided answers about what happened during their final climb, although the exact reason the anchor system failed remains unknown.

As the mountains return to silence, the memories of the two young climbers remain with those who knew them.

They will be remembered not only for the tragic circumstances of their final expedition, but for their friendship, their adventurous spirits and the dreams they carried into the future.

May Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon rest in peace.

And may their families find strength and comfort in the memories of two young men whose lives, though far too short, meant so much.