2 College Students Vanish While Hiking Dangerous Mountain During ‘First Big’ Snowfall of the Season

Search efforts continue for two college students who went missing during a hiking expedition in Colorado. Kaden Matsuda, a 19-year-old from Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, a 20-year-old from New York, set out to hike Ice Mountain on 23 October, but failed to return, prompting concern among family and friends. They were reported missing on 26 October, three days after their hike began.

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the missing hikers from the staff at Colorado Mountain College Leadville Campus. According to the college, the two students were experienced hikers and had planned their trip carefully. Their intention was to turn back if conditions did not feel safe, a precaution that hinted at their preparedness for outdoor challenges.

Sheriff’s deputies responded quickly to the Mount Huron trailhead near County Road 390, where they discovered Matsuda’s vehicle. Remarkably, there was roughly eight inches of snow on the ground but none seen beneath the car, suggesting the vehicle had been parked there before the snowfall. Officials confirmed that rain had been falling in the region on the day they left, and Ice Mountain received significant snowfall over the weekend.

The search efforts intensified when a helicopter crew spotted a collapsed tent near Lake Ann the following day. Ground teams later reached the location and found the tent had buckled under the weight of the accumulating snow. Inside, they discovered sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing belonging to the missing hikers, but there was no sign of Matsuda or Donlon. Authorities noted the absence of footprints, indicating that the tent’s condition predates the heavy snowfall.

Prior to their disappearance, the hikers had communicated their intended destination to friends via text, which included a map pinpointing Ice Mountain. An area near Winfield was marked, possibly suggesting a planned campsite. However, attempts to reach out to Matsuda and Donlon were unsuccessful, as their cellphones had not been used in over 48 hours. The remote location is notorious for poor mobile signal, and officials speculated that the hikers may have switched off their phones to conserve battery.

Ice Mountain is regarded as a challenging climb, particularly during inclement weather. Despite concerns about potential avalanches following the recent snowfall, officials indicated that conditions on the mountain had become perilous. With the terrain now covered in ice and snow, ground searches became extremely hazardous, limiting search options for rescuers.

The situation took a grim turn as officials noted that drone technology and helicopters equipped with infrared capabilities, along with search dogs and a team of approximately 50 personnel, had scoured the area without success. Sheriff Andy Rohrich expressed his ongoing optimism that the missing men could still be alive and in need of rescue, while also cautioning that adverse weather conditions might further complicate search efforts.

Matsuda is reportedly studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Donlon is training to become a mountain guide. Sheriff Rohrich has described both young men as strong individuals, expressing his sympathy for their families during this harrowing time. He emphasised the urgency of the situation, as the opportunity to locate Matsuda and Donlon grows ever narrower with forecasts of worsening weather ahead.

As the search for Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon continues, their families and friends hold onto hope for a safe resolution. Authorities are not only prioritising efforts in the area where the men went missing but are also exploring other potential routes they may have taken. With the community rallying behind the families, the search remains a poignant reminder of the risks associated with outdoor adventures in challenging landscapes.