World · North America · 3 hrs ago
Two missing Colorado college students found dead on mountain
Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were found dead on West Apostle Mountain in Colorado on Wednesday.
The college students, aged 19 and 20, had set out on Friday for a hike in the Rocky Mountains and were expected back by Sunday.
A heavy snowstorm hit during their trip, and college staff reported them missing on Monday.
Search teams found their tent collapsed under snow, but the men were not there; about 60 volunteers used helicopters, drones and dogs to search.
Friends and family described both as experienced hikers and climbers, and officials said their equipment suggested they had left the tent for a technical climb.
The causes of their deaths remain under investigation, and authorities said they would not offer theories until autopsies are complete.
The sheriff’s office said foul play was not suspected, and officials had worried that more poor weather could limit aerial searches.
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead on West Apostle Mountain in Colorado on Wednesday afternoon.
The Colorado college students had gone missing during a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains after a heavy snowstorm hit.
They had left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday to hike Ice Mountain and were expected back by Sunday.
Their causes of death are under investigation, and authorities said foul play was not suspected.
About 60 search and rescue volunteers, aided by helicopters, drones and dogs, took part in the search.
- Who
- Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, Colorado college students.
- What
- They were found dead after going missing during a hiking trip.
- When
- They were found Wednesday afternoon. They had left for the hike on Friday and were expected back by Sunday.
- Where
- In a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen, Colorado.
- Why
- The causes of their deaths are under investigation. Authorities said foul play was not suspected.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Matsuda and Donlon left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus, telling family and friends they planned to hike Ice Mountain.
The students were expected back.
College staff reported them missing.
A helicopter crew found their collapsed tent, sleeping bags, a stove and clothing near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain.
Searchers found the students’ bodies in a basin of West Apostle Mountain.
- Students
- Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20
- Found
- Wednesday afternoon
- Location
- West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen
- Search effort
- About 60 volunteers, with helicopters, drones and dogs
- Planned hike
- Ice Mountain, a nearly 14,000-foot peak requiring technical climbing
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What people are saying
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.