Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, have been found dead after disappearing during a weekend hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains. The two students from Colorado Mountain College were discovered on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2026, in a remote basin on West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County, Colorado. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news2″,”turn624058news3”]}/>
Their deaths followed several days of searching after the young men failed to return from their planned outdoor excursion. As relatives, friends, and their college community begin to grieve, authorities are continuing to investigate what happened during the trip.
How Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon Went Missing
Matsuda and Donlon left the Leadville campus of Colorado Mountain College on Friday, October 23, intending to hike in the Ice Mountain area. The mountain rises to nearly 14,000 feet and is known for demanding terrain that requires technical climbing experience.
According to information released by the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, the students had told family members and friends about their plans and were expected to return by Sunday. When they did not come back, college staff reported them missing on Monday morning. Deputies subsequently located Matsuda’s vehicle near the Mount Huron trailhead. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news2″,”turn624058search9”]}/>
Friends and family described both young men as experienced hikers and climbers. However, their experience did not prevent the trip from ending in tragedy as severe winter weather affected the mountainous region.
Snowstorm Complicates Search for the Missing Students
Search and rescue personnel faced difficult conditions as they worked to locate the pair. Heavy snowfall covered parts of the mountain, creating additional challenges for crews searching the remote landscape.
On Tuesday, a helicopter team spotted the students’ tent collapsed beneath the snow near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain. Sleeping bags, a camping stove, and clothing were found at the site, but the two men were not there.
Based on the campsite’s location, searchers expanded their efforts toward West Apostle Mountain. Approximately 60 search and rescue volunteers participated in the operation, using helicopters, drones, search dogs, and other resources to cover the area. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news3″,”turn624058news6″,”turn624058search10”]}/>
The search ended on Wednesday afternoon when the bodies of Matsuda and Donlon were found near each other in a basin on West Apostle Mountain, roughly 100 miles southeast of Aspen.
Colorado Mountain College and Sheriff Respond
The discovery prompted expressions of grief from local authorities and the college community.
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich expressed sympathy for the students’ families and friends, while recognizing the efforts of the search teams. He also asked people to give those closest to the young men space as they mourned. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news3″,”turn624058search9”]}/>
Colorado Mountain College also expressed devastation over the loss of two members of its community. The school said its focus was on supporting the students’ families, friends, classmates, faculty, and staff during the difficult days ahead. College personnel with specialized mountain travel and rescue training had also assisted with the search. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news3″,”turn624058search10”]}/>
The tragedy has affected not only the families of the two students but also the wider community of people who knew them through college and their shared interest in the outdoors.
Remembering Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon
Although their lives ended at young ages, Matsuda and Donlon had educational and professional goals connected to the mountains and outdoor work.
According to reporting on the sheriff’s statement, Matsuda was studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Donlon was pursuing training to become a mountain guide. <Cite refs={[“turn624058search10″,”turn624058search11”]}/>
Those ambitions reflected different paths, but both involved working in outdoor environments. Their deaths have left family members, friends, classmates, and instructors facing the loss of two young people whose futures were still unfolding.
Further personal tributes and details about their lives may emerge through family announcements and the college community. Their individual stories deserve to be remembered through confirmed information and the recollections of those who knew them personally.
Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation
Authorities have not announced the confirmed cause of death for either student. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said foul play was not suspected but declined to speculate about what happened before autopsies could be completed.
A detailed investigation was being conducted in coordination with the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office. Although a heavy snowstorm affected the area during the search, officials had not established a definitive explanation for the deaths in the reports available on October 29, 2026. <Cite refs={[“turn624058news2″,”turn624058news3″,”turn624058search10”]}/>
The distinction is important: the weather and difficult mountain conditions were part of the circumstances surrounding the search, but they should not be presented as the confirmed medical cause of death unless authorities establish that conclusion.
Obituary: Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, were Colorado Mountain College students whose bodies were found on West Apostle Mountain after they went missing during a planned hiking trip.
Cause of Death: Not yet confirmed in the reports available on October 29, 2026. Authorities said foul play was not suspected and that autopsies and further investigation were needed.
Funeral Arrangements: No confirmed funeral or memorial service details were included in the reports reviewed.
Disclaimer: This article is based on reported statements from authorities and Colorado Mountain College, along with published news coverage. The cause of death and further personal or memorial details should be updated only when confirmed by the relevant authorities or authorized family representatives.