Search Teams Find Two Missing Colorado College Students Dead

Two college students who disappeared during a hiking trip in Colorado's Rocky Mountains were found dead Wednesday afternoon in a basin on West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office. Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, had set out for a mountain excursion before a heavy snowstorm hit the region.

The students left Colorado Mountain College's Leadville campus on Friday and told family and friends they planned to climb Ice Mountain, a peak approaching 14,000 feet (4,270 meters) that requires technical climbing. They were expected to return by Sunday, but college staff reported them missing Monday morning, the sheriff's office said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of both deaths and said they do not suspect foul play. Officials declined to speculate about what happened until autopsies are completed, according to the sheriff's office.

About 60 search and rescue volunteers took part in the operation, supported by helicopters, drones and dogs. The search was complicated by severe winter conditions, while authorities also faced the prospect of additional poor weather arriving Friday.

Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich addressed the loss and the efforts to locate the students in a statement released Wednesday evening.

"Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends," said Andy Rohrich, Chaffee County sheriff.

Rohrich said search teams had worked to locate the students before another storm was expected to arrive over the weekend. He also emphasized the importance of finding them for their families.

"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." said Andy Rohrich, Chaffee County sheriff.

Investigators had found possible clues about the students' route a day before their bodies were discovered. A helicopter crew located a tent collapsed beneath snow on Tuesday near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain. Sleeping bags, a stove and clothing were inside, but the students were not at the campsite.

Based on the tent's location, officials believed the pair had been heading toward West Apostle Mountain, which rises to 13,597 feet. The sheriff's office also said the students' climbing equipment was missing from their dorm rooms, tent and vehicle, suggesting they had left the campsite prepared for a technical ascent.

Trash found inside the tent indicated the students had eaten before beginning their climb, officials said. Friends and relatives described both men as experienced hikers and climbers.

Matsuda was studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Donlon was pursuing studies to become a mountain guide, Rohrich said. Authorities had been concerned that worsening weather later in the week could restrict aerial searches, with another storm expected to begin Friday.