Chaffee County finds two missing students in West Apostle Mountain basin

The bodies of two college students missing in the Colorado Rockies were found Wednesday afternoon.

The pair left Leadville on Friday for a weekend hike near Huron Peak in Chaffee County. A snowstorm hit the region Saturday, dropping between one and two feet of snow. The students did not return as planned, and their families contacted law enforcement on Monday morning.

Chaffee County Search and Rescue teams began a large scale search mission on Monday. The operation continued through Tuesday. Sheriff Andy Rohrich stated Wednesday morning that approximately 50 searchers returned to the field. Searchers located the men around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The bodies were found in a basin on West Apostle Mountain, which stands at 13,597 feet. West Apostle Mountain is located near Ice Mountain. Officials expanded the search area to this location after finding the men's tent.

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Department reported that foul play is not suspected. The department said it will not offer theories until an autopsy is completed. A detailed investigation will proceed with the Chaffee County Coroner's Office. The two men were found near each other.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, was from Ridgway. Jackson Donlon, 20, was from New York. Both were students at Colorado Mountain College. Matsuda was studying to be a wildland firefighter. Donlon was studying to be a mountain guide. Officials noted that the men's experience was expected to help them survive the conditions.

Searchers used drones, helicopters, and multimission aircraft equipped with infrared technology. Search dogs were also deployed at the trailhead. Officials hoped fresh snow would reveal tracks, but none were found. Snowdrifts near Ice Mountain reached heights of four feet. The men's phones had not been used for two days. Cellular service was likely unavailable in that area.

The vehicle belonging to the pair was found at a trailhead near Winfield. It was covered in about eight inches of snow. Searchers later found the tent and belongings also covered in snow. The men had left maps and detailed information about their trip. They had told family members they planned to hike to Ice Mountain, which peaks at 13,960 feet.

Sheriff Rohrich said the team worked to find the students before a new storm arrived this weekend. He described the discovery as a gut punch but noted that prayers were answered. Colorado Mountain College officials said they are supporting the families, friends, and staff. The college expressed gratitude to the search and rescue professionals and volunteers.