Two college students remain missing in Colorado after setting out on a planned hike and failing to return, prompting an extensive search operation across a mountainous area where heavy snowfall and dangerous terrain are complicating rescue efforts.
The missing men have been identified as Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, from New York. Both attend Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus and left on Friday, October 23, intending to hike Ice Mountain in Chaffee County.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said the students had not returned by the weekend. College staff reported them missing on Monday, October 26, and search-and-rescue teams began looking for them in the area where they were believed to have planned their hike. As of October 28, neither student had been located.
Search Intensifies in Difficult Mountain Conditions
Authorities located Matsuda’s vehicle near the Mount Huron trailhead, an access point commonly used by hikers heading into the area near Ice Mountain. Friends and relatives told investigators that the two men were experienced hikers and were expected to have appropriate clothing for their trip.
The students had reportedly shared a map with friends identifying Ice Mountain as their intended destination. They had also discussed returning on Saturday if conditions felt unsafe, or on Sunday if they continued with their plans.
The search has been complicated by a significant change in weather. Authorities reported that the area received heavy snowfall over the weekend, with roughly one to two feet accumulating on Ice Mountain and deeper drifts reaching three or four feet in some locations.
The mountain’s rocky terrain has become covered in snow and ice, making it extremely dangerous for rescuers to approach on foot. Officials also said the terrain offers few suitable places for helicopters to land near the search area.
Collapsed Tent Found Near Lake Ann
A major development came on Tuesday, October 27, when a helicopter spotted an object near Lake Ann. A team sent to investigate discovered that it was a tent that had collapsed beneath the weight of the snow.
Inside, searchers found sleeping bags, a stove and some clothing. Neither Matsuda nor Donlon was there.
Investigators noted that there was no snow beneath the tent and no visible footprints nearby. Those observations suggested the tent may have been set up before the snowfall, but they did not establish where the students went afterward.
Search teams had also examined the surrounding peaks using helicopters, drones and aircraft equipped with infrared technology. The students had not been found in the areas searched, and investigators were considering whether they might have travelled somewhere other than their original destination.
Families Await Answers as Search Continues
Authorities said neither student’s cellphone had been used in the preceding 48 hours. However, officials cautioned that cellular coverage in the mountainous area is extremely limited, and the phones may have been switched off to conserve battery power.
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the search effort was continuing with available resources, while warning that more poor weather expected later in the week could make the operation increasingly difficult.
Both students have interests connected to the outdoors. Matsuda is studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Donlon is pursuing a path toward becoming a mountain guide. Friends and family have described them as strong, experienced young men, and officials have expressed hope that they may still be found.
As of the latest reports available on October 28, Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon remained missing. Authorities have not confirmed what happened to them after they reached the mountain area, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
The search remains active as rescue crews work through hazardous conditions and relatives wait anxiously for news. Officials are asking the public to keep the two students and their families in their thoughts while the investigation and search continue.
