TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS DIED TOGETHER ON A COLORADO MOUNTAIN — INVESTIGATORS REVEAL A CATASTROPHIC EQUIPMENT FAILURE

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were experienced outdoor enthusiasts who shared a deep love of the mountains. After disappearing during a weekend climbing trip, their bodies were discovered in a remote mountain basin. Authorities have now revealed what happened during their final moments.

Two college students who disappeared during a weekend mountain adventure in Colorado were killed after a climbing anchor system catastrophically failed, according to the findings of an investigation released by authorities on November 3.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead in a remote basin on West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County, Colorado, after an extensive search that lasted several days.

The two friends had left Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus on Friday, October 23, intending to spend the weekend exploring the mountains. They were initially planning to climb Ice Mountain but never returned as expected.

Their disappearance prompted a major search operation involving rescue volunteers, helicopters, drones and specialized teams.

Now, investigators have provided a clearer explanation of the incident that ended both young men’s lives.

A CLIMBING ANCHOR FAILED DURING THEIR DESCENT

In a joint statement released November 3, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office confirmed that autopsies determined both students died from multiple blunt-force injuries.

Investigators concluded that the pair fell a substantial distance while rappelling after one of their climbing anchor points experienced what authorities described as a “catastrophic failure of unknown cause.”

According to the investigation, Jackson Donlon was preparing to rappel from a primary anchor point attached to a rock surface.

That primary anchor appeared to have additional protection from a metal piton and a secondary anchor secured to another rock surface.

Kaden Matsuda was connected to the same anchor system through his personal anchor device, according to authorities.

However, something went wrong with the anchor system.

The failure caused both men to fall a considerable distance. Authorities said the injuries they sustained were fatal and that both died instantly.

Investigators have not determined exactly why the anchor failed.

They also addressed concerns about the severe winter weather that affected the region during the search.

Although officials could not completely establish whether the snowstorm had negatively affected the circumstances surrounding the incident, they said the storm was not a direct contributing factor in the two students’ deaths.

THEIR DISAPPEARANCE SPARKED A MULTIDAY SEARCH

Matsuda and Donlon left the Colorado Mountain College campus on October 23 for what was expected to be a weekend outdoor adventure.

They were initially planning to climb Ice Mountain, a peak rising approximately 13,958 feet above sea level.

According to information provided to investigators, the friends planned to return Saturday if conditions did not feel safe. If they continued with their original plan, they expected to return Sunday.

But neither student came back.

On Monday morning, October 26, college staff contacted authorities after the pair failed to return as expected.

Investigators interviewed family members and friends to establish their intended route and last known movements.

Their vehicle was located at a trailhead. Authorities noted that approximately eight inches of snow had accumulated around the vehicle, while there was no snow underneath it, suggesting it had arrived before the snowfall.

The weather had already become a concern.

Rain fell in the area when the students began their journey on Friday. Although conditions briefly improved Saturday morning, a severe snowstorm moved into the mountains that afternoon.

Some locations received approximately one to two feet of snow, with deeper accumulations in certain areas because of drifting and sliding snow.

SEARCH TEAMS FOUND THEIR COLLAPSED TENT — BUT THE STUDENTS WERE MISSING

As the search expanded, rescuers used helicopters to examine difficult-to-reach sections of the mountainous terrain.

On Tuesday, October 27, an aerial team spotted an object near Lake Ann.

A ground search team was dispatched to investigate and discovered that it was the students’ tent, which had collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow.

Inside, rescuers found sleeping bags, a camping stove and clothing.

However, there was no sign of either student.

Authorities also reported that there were no visible footprints in the snow around the tent. The absence of snow underneath it suggested that the tent had been set up before the storm arrived.

Investigators believed the students may have changed their original plans and headed toward West Apostle Mountain instead of Ice Mountain.

Their bodies were eventually located approximately a mile from the tent.

On Wednesday, October 28, search teams discovered both men in a basin on West Apostle Mountain.

Their recovery was complicated by difficult mountain conditions and strong winds. Ground crews eventually recovered their bodies by helicopter on Thursday, October 29.

Approximately 60 search and rescue volunteers participated in the operation, supported by helicopters, drones and search dogs.

TWO YOUNG MEN WHO BUILT THEIR LIVES AROUND THE OUTDOORS

Beyond the investigation, the tragedy has left the Colorado Mountain College community mourning two young men whose futures held enormous promise.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, was from Ridgway, Colorado.

He was studying wildland firefighting and had already participated in service work after graduating from high school.

According to the college, classmates and faculty members remembered him as kind, intelligent and welcoming.

Jackson Donlon, 20, was from Queensbury, New York.

He had traveled to Colorado to pursue his passion for the mountains and was studying outdoor recreation leadership.

He was also an enthusiastic climber and skier.

A New York skiing community, Ski or Die NY, previously described Donlon as one of the most ambitious young skiers on the East Coast.

The group noted that he had completed a challenging 28-mile ski tour in the region’s High Peaks in December 2025, becoming the youngest person to accomplish the feat, according to its account.

The two students came from different parts of the country, but their shared passion for outdoor adventure brought them together.

At Colorado Mountain College, that common interest developed into a close friendship and a sense of belonging.

THE SHERIFF’S MESSAGE TO THEIR FAMILIES

Following the discovery of their bodies, Colorado Mountain College issued a statement expressing its grief over the loss.

The institution described Matsuda and Donlon as kind-hearted and adventurous students whose lives had been filled with promise.

Sheriff Andy Rohrich also offered condolences to their families, friends and everyone affected by the tragedy.

In his November 3 statement, he reflected on the two young men and their love of exploring the mountains.

He said that although their lives were far too short, they spent their final moments together surrounded by the high peaks of Chaffee County — a landscape they deeply loved.

The sheriff also expressed relief in knowing that neither student suffered.

“There are no right words to family and friends for a loss this heavy,” Rohrich said.

He added that whenever people explore the backcountry in the future, they will remember the two young men who did not simply look at the world — they climbed it.

Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were just 19 and 20 years old. They had traveled to Colorado to pursue their dreams, build their futures and experience the mountains they loved. Their journey ended far too soon, leaving behind grieving families, friends and a college community that will remember them.