Full Breakdown
Tragic Discovery of Two Colorado Mountain College Hikers in West Apostle Mountain Basin
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
The Fatal Find
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich confirmed that the bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgeway, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, were recovered in a basin on West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Both men were students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus and had been missing since a weekend trip to Ice Mountain. Deputies located Matsuda’s vehicle at a trailhead near Winfield on Monday, and a subsequent helicopter survey identified their collapsed tent beneath heavy snow, leading rescuers to the bodies.
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Video: Two college students found dead in Chaffee County
02
Search Effort and Conditions
The multi-day operation involved roughly 60 searchers employing helicopters, drones, search dogs, and beacon technology. Rough terrain, several feet of fresh snow, and icy conditions limited foot access to portions of the basin. The sheriff’s office deployed additional dogs with scent articles from the tent to trace possible movement. Weather forecasts warned of further winter storms that could ground aircraft and obscure evidence, prompting crews to work intensively before conditions deteriorated.
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03
Institutional Responses
Sheriff Rohrich expressed profound sorrow for the families and highlighted the dedication of his team, noting that the search concluded before an approaching storm. Colorado Mountain College released a statement emphasizing its “devastation” over the loss, pledging emotional support for students, faculty, and staff, and thanking the volunteer rescuers. The Chaffee County Coroner’s Office was tasked with completing an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death; officials indicated that foul play is not suspected pending the investigation.
04
Verbatim Quotes
- “Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” — Sheriff Andy Rohrich
- “We’re going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” — Sheriff Andy Rohrich
- “We’re just going to go as 100%, as hard as we can, until Mother Nature tells us we can’t do it anymore,” — Sheriff Andy Rohrich
- “We’ve seen worst-case scenarios that ended positive,” — Sheriff Andy Rohrich
- “It is with profound sadness that we report Kaden Matsuda (age 19) and Jackson Donlon (age 20) were located deceased at about 3:30 p.m. [on Wednesday] in a basin of West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County,” — West Apostle Mountain. Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO)
- “Our hearts ache for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” — Sheriff Andy Rohrich
05
Why It Matters
The incident underscores the hazards of technical backcountry routes such as Ice Mountain, which the sheriff’s office warned require experienced climbers. Colorado Mountain College’s response highlights the broader community impact when student athletes are lost in remote terrain, prompting institutions to bolster mental-health resources and emergency-preparedness training for outdoor activities. The ongoing autopsy will inform future safety guidelines for hikers in the region.