Tragic Hiking Accident in Colorado

Two college students, Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon, were found deceased in Colorado after failing to return from a hike as expected. They were missing for several days before their bodies were discovered by deputies in a mountain basin on West Apostle Mountain, as confirmed by the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.

Matsuda, from Ridgway, Colorado, and Donlon, from Queensbury, New York, were both enrolled at the Colorado Mountain College Leadville campus. They left for a hike near Ice Mountain on Friday, October 23. Unfortunately, they did not return as planned, prompting a search operation.

The discovery occurred on Wednesday after the college reported the students missing on Monday. The sheriff’s office has stated that foul play is not suspected. Their bodies were located close to each other.

Search and rescue efforts involved 60 volunteers from six different counties. These teams navigated challenging trails and adverse weather conditions to locate the missing students.

The timeline of events reveals:

• Friday, Oct. 23: Matsuda and Donlon left campus despite rainy conditions in Chaffee County.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: They had planned to return if weather conditions were poor. A significant snowstorm created hazardous conditions between 1-2 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: Their alternative return day if they attempted to reach the summit.
• Monday, Oct. 26: The college officially reported them missing. Matsuda’s vehicle was found at a trailhead near Winfield, Colorado.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Aerial crews found their collapsed tent near Lake Ann.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Matsuda and Donlon were discovered deceased.

In his statement, Sheriff Andy Rohrich expressed condolences to the families of Kaden and Jackson. He commended the search team’s efforts, stating, “Our heart aches for their family and friends. We are proud of our team’s determination to find them before the impending storm, providing some closure for the family.”

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths remains ongoing. Their remains have been sent to the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office for autopsy.