Chaffee County Sheriff confirms deaths of two missing Colorado Mountain College hikers

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that the bodies of two missing college students were found on West Apostle Mountain in Colorado. Kaden Matsuda, 19, from Ridgway, and Jackson Donlon, 20, from New York, died while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. The discovery took place in a mountain basin approximately 100 miles southeast of Aspen.

The two men left the campus of Colorado Mountain College Leadville on Friday. They informed family and friends that they intended to hike Ice Mountain, a peak requiring technical climbing skills. Staff members reported the students missing on Monday morning after they failed to return by their expected Sunday deadline. A heavy snowstorm struck the area during the weekend, complicating initial search efforts.

Search and rescue operations involved about 60 volunteers supported by helicopters, drones, and search dogs. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew located a collapsed tent near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain. The tent contained sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing, but the students were absent. Officials used the tent's location to focus the search on West Apostle Mountain, which stands 13,597 feet high.

Sheriff Andy Rohrich stated that foul play was not suspected. He noted that authorities would withhold theories on the cause of death until autopsies are finished. Rohrich said the team worked to locate the hikers before a new storm was expected to begin on Friday. He added that finding the students provided some closure for their families.

Friends and family described Matsuda and Donlon as experienced hikers and climbers. Rohrich noted that Matsuda was training to be a wildland firefighter, while Donlon was studying to become a mountain guide. Investigators observed that climbing gear was missing from the students' dorms, tent, and vehicle, indicating they prepared for a technical ascent. Trash found inside the tent suggested the pair had eaten before departing for the hike.