HEARTBREAK IN COLORADO: TWO COLLEGE HIKERS FOUND DEAD AFTER COLLAPSED TENT DISCOVERED BENEATH HEAVY SNOW

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, disappeared during a weekend mountain trip. Search crews found their tent and camping gear near Lake Ann before locating the young men in a basin on West Apostle Mountain.

A search for two college students who vanished during a hiking trip in Colorado has ended in tragedy after both young men were found dead following days of difficult search-and-rescue operations.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus. They left for a mountain trip on Friday, October 23, 2026, and were expected to return over the weekend.

When they failed to come back, their families, friends and college community grew increasingly concerned. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office launched a search that would become increasingly challenging as heavy snow and dangerous mountain conditions complicated efforts to find them.

On Wednesday, October 28, authorities confirmed that both students had been found dead in a basin on West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County. Investigators said they did not suspect foul play, while the exact cause and manner of death remained subject to further examination.

COLLAPSED TENT DISCOVERED BENEATH HEAVY SNOW

The search took a concerning turn on Tuesday, October 27, when a helicopter crew spotted an object near Lake Ann.

A search team went to investigate and discovered the students’ tent, which had collapsed under the weight of accumulated snow.

Inside were sleeping bags, clothing and a camping stove. Neither student was at the campsite, and searchers reported no visible footprints in the surrounding snow.

Investigators believed the tent had been set up before the snowfall, as there was no snow beneath it. The discovery raised further questions about where the two men had gone and whether they had attempted to continue toward nearby peaks.

SEVERE WEATHER MADE THE SEARCH INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS

The area had experienced rain before a major snowfall swept through the mountains over the weekend.

Around eight inches of snow accumulated near the Mount Huron trailhead, while higher elevations received one to two feet, with drifts reaching three to four feet in some places.

Icy terrain, deep snow and limited access made it dangerous for searchers to reach certain areas on foot. Helicopters, drones, infrared-equipped aircraft and search dogs were deployed as crews expanded their search beyond the students’ initially reported destination.

Authorities also examined information from the students’ phones. Neither device had been used in the preceding 48 hours, although investigators cautioned that limited cellular service and the possibility that the phones had been switched off made the information difficult to interpret.

TWO YOUNG MEN WITH DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE

Matsuda and Donlon were described as experienced hikers and climbers.

Matsuda was studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Donlon was pursuing his goal of becoming a mountain guide. Their plans reflected a shared connection to the outdoors and a willingness to take on challenging mountain terrain.

Friends and family had told investigators that the pair intended to turn back if conditions did not feel safe. They had expected to return on Saturday if they abandoned the planned climb or on Sunday if they continued with the trip.

Their disappearance prompted an urgent effort involving dozens of search-and-rescue personnel and volunteers from multiple counties.

COLLEGE COMMUNITY MOURNS THEIR LOSS

Following confirmation of the deaths, Colorado Mountain College issued a statement expressing devastation at the loss of two members of its community.

The college said its thoughts were with the students’ families, friends, classmates and everyone who knew them. It also thanked the search-and-rescue professionals and volunteers who worked under hazardous conditions to locate the young men.

Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the team had worked against the threat of worsening weather, hoping to find the students before another storm made conditions even more difficult

For those who had been waiting and hoping for a different outcome, the news marked a devastating end to days of uncertainty.

Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon set out on a mountain trip with plans for the weekend and futures they were working toward. Their deaths have left loved ones and classmates grieving two young lives cut short in the Colorado mountains.