CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – Sheriff Andy Rohrich says two missing Colorado hikers have been found dead.
After days of searching, the sheriff’s office said both Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were found in a basin of West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
“Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” said Rohrich. “We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm.”
In a statement sent to 11 News, Colorado Mountain College said:
“We are devastated by the loss of Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon, two members of our Colorado Mountain College community.
Our hearts are with their families, friends, classmates, faculty and everyone who knew and cared about them. Our focus tonight is on supporting those closest to Kaden and Jackson and making sure our Leadville students, faculty and staff have the emotional support they need in the difficult days ahead.
We are extraordinarily grateful to the search and rescue professionals and volunteers who devoted themselves to finding Kaden and Jackson.”
Investigators do not suspect foul play, but the sheriff’s office said the exact cause and manner of the men’s deaths will be determined by autopsy.
The search and rescue effort lasted multiple days
Search crews raced against worsening weather as they looked for the students, who went missing after a weekend mountain trip. In an interview with 11 News on Wednesday, Rohrich said additional snow and dangerous conditions could soon limit the search.
“We’re going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” Rohrich said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Matsuda and Donlon planned to camp near Ice Mountain and attempt a climb over the weekend. Colorado Mountain College contacted authorities Monday morning after the students failed to return, according to the sheriff’s office.
Rohrich says deputies found the students’ vehicle at a nearby trailhead. A helicopter later spotted their tent, which had collapsed under heavy snow, in a basin below the peaks. He says the discovery led investigators to expand the search around nearby West Apostle Peak, which could better align with the students’ plans.
About 60 searchers worked in dangerous conditions
Rohrich said about 60 searchers worked in the area using helicopters, drones, search dogs and beacon technology. Flight for Life had been attempting to locate an avalanche beacon that Jackson typically carries, but those efforts had not been successful as of Wednesday.
Rohrich said crews focused on the lower basin near the tent and the areas leading toward the peaks. Several feet of snow, icy conditions and hazardous terrain made it too dangerous for teams to access some areas on foot.
Rohrich said officials brought in search dogs to use scent articles from the tent in an effort to determine which direction the students may have traveled.
Weather could complicate search
Rohrich said more winter weather expected later in the week could have grounded aircraft, limited drone operations and covered potential clues with additional snow.
“We’re just going to go as 100%, as hard as we can, until Mother Nature tells us we can’t do it anymore,” Rohrich said.
College faculty assisting search
Colorado Mountain College said faculty members with specialized training in mountain travel and rescue assisted search teams.
The college said it contacted authorities Monday morning after learning the students had not returned. Law enforcement had already been notified and Chaffee County Search and Rescue had mobilized, according to the college’s statement.
Rohrich believed the students were well-equipped and had prepared for the trip.
“We’ve seen worst-case scenarios that ended positive,” Rohrich said. “So we’re keeping up hope. The family’s keeping up hope. They’re strong. And we’re just going to keep pushing to the end here.”
The search concluded Wednesday afternoon.
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