The bodies of two Colorado Mountain College students who went missing during a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains last weekend have been found, authorities said Wednesday. Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were discovered in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen. The sheriff’s office said foul play was not suspected; the causes of their deaths were under investigation, and authorities said they would not offer theories until autopsies are completed.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday afternoon that the men’s bodies had been found in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen. The students had been missing since the weekend after a heavy snowstorm hit the area.
Matsuda and Donlon left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday, telling family and friends they planned to hike up Ice Mountain, a nearly 14,000ft peak that requires technical climbing. They were expected back by Sunday, but college staff reported them missing Monday morning.
A search involving about 60 volunteers, helicopters, drones and dogs searched the area. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew discovered a collapsed tent with sleeping bags, a stove and clothing near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain, but no sign of the men.
Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the location of the bodies indicated they were well into a hike when they died. In a statement Wednesday night, he said: “Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends. We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.”
Friends and family described both men as experienced hikers and climbers. Rohrich said Matsuda was studying to become a wildland firefighter, and Donlon was studying to become a mountain guide. The sheriff’s office said their climbing equipment was not in their dorms, tent or vehicle, suggesting they left their tent prepared for a technical climb.
Rohrich said Thursday morning that the bodies remained in the basin and officials were waiting for gusty winds to calm so a helicopter crew could retrieve them. Authorities had been concerned that aerial searches could be limited later in the week because of expected poor weather beginning Friday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The deaths highlight the dangers of high-altitude hiking in unpredictable mountain weather, even for experienced climbers.
- The loss of two students training for careers related to outdoor safety (wildland firefighting, mountain guiding) underscores the risks inherent in these professions.
- The incident raises questions about safety measures for backcountry trips by college students in the area.
Background
Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus is located in the Rocky Mountains at high altitude. The region includes peaks like Ice Mountain and West Apostle Mountain, which require technical climbing skills and can be treacherous, especially with sudden snowstorms. This accident occurred during a heavy snowstorm that hit the area last weekend.
What to Watch
- Autopsy results to determine the cause of death and confirm whether foul play or environmental factors were involved.
- Weather conditions for the recovery operation; a storm expected to begin Friday could delay retrieval of the bodies.
- Possible discussions at Colorado Mountain College about hiking safety protocols and guidance for students planning backcountry trips.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
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- SupportedRohrich said: “Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends. We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.”World news | The Guardian: ““Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” Chaffee county’s sheriff, Andy Rohrich, said in the statement on Wednesday night. “We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.””
- SupportedTwo Colorado college students were found dead after going missing during a Rocky Mountains hike.World news | The Guardian: “Two Colorado college students have been found dead after going missing during a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains last weekend when a heavy snowstorm hit, authorities said.”
- SupportedThe bodies were found in a basin of West Apostle Mountain.World news | The Guardian: “The bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado , and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, were found on Wednesday afternoon in a basin of West Apostle Mountain”
- SupportedThe sheriff’s office said foul play was not suspected.World news | The Guardian: “The sheriff’s office said the causes of their deaths were under investigation, but foul play was not suspected.”
- Partly supportedMatsuda and Donlon were Colorado Mountain College students.World news | The Guardian: “Two Colorado college students have been found dead after going missing during a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains last weekend when a heavy snowstorm hit, authorities said. The pair left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday”
- SupportedThe causes of their deaths were under investigation.World news | The Guardian: “The sheriff’s office said the causes of their deaths were under investigation, but foul play was not suspected.”
- Partly supportedThe sheriff’s office announced Wednesday afternoon that the bodies had been found.World news | The Guardian: “The bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado , and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, were found on Wednesday afternoon in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles (160km) south-east of Aspen, the Chaffee county sheriff’s office said in a statement posted on social media.”
- SupportedThe basin is about 100 miles southeast of Aspen.World news | The Guardian: “in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles (160km) south-east of Aspen”
- SupportedThe men left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday, planning to hike Ice Mountain.World news | The Guardian: “The pair left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday, telling family and friends they planned to hike up Ice Mountain”
- SupportedCollege staff reported the men missing Monday morning after they were expected back by Sunday.World news | The Guardian: “They were expected back by Sunday, but college staff reported them missing on Monday morning.”
- SupportedAbout 60 search and rescue volunteers searched for the men, aided by helicopters, drones and dogs.World news | The Guardian: “About 60 search and rescue volunteers, aided by helicopters, drones and dogs, searched for the two men.”
- SupportedOn Thursday morning, the bodies remained in the basin while officials waited for gusty winds to calm so a helicopter crew could retrieve them.World news | The Guardian: “Rohrich said in a phone interview on Thursday morning that the men’s bodies remained in the basin and officials were waiting for gusty winds to calm so that a helicopter crew could fly to the site to retrieve them.”