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 Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were found in a pool on West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
“Our hearts ache for the family and friends of Kaden and Jackson,” Rohrich said. “We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before the storm that is coming this weekend.”
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 thoughts are with their families, friends, classmates, teachers and everyone who knew and cared for them. Our goal tonight is to support those closest to Kaden and Jackson and ensure that our Leadville students, faculty and staff have the emotional support they need in the difficult days ahead.
We are extremely grateful to the search and rescue professionals and volunteers who dedicated themselves to the search for 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 through autopsy.
Search and rescue efforts lasted several days
Search teams raced against worsening weather conditions to search for students missing after a weekend in the mountains. 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 this 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 then 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 fit the students’ plans.
Around sixty researchers worked in dangerous conditions
Rohrich said about 60 searchers were working in the area using helicopters, drones, search dogs and beacons. Flight for Life had attempted to locate an avalanche beacon that Jackson usually carries, but those efforts were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Rohrich said crews focused on the lower basin near the tent and areas leading to the peaks. Several feet of snow, icy conditions and treacherous terrain made it too dangerous for crews to access some areas on foot.
Rohrich said authorities brought in search dogs to use scented items from the tent to determine which direction the students may have traveled.
The weather could complicate the search
Rohrich said more severe winter weather expected later in the week may have grounded planes, limited drone operations and obscured potential clues with additional snow.
“We’re going to go 100 percent, as hard as we can, until Mother Nature tells us we can’t do it anymore,” Rohrich said.
University professors help with research
Colorado Mountain College said faculty members have specialized training in mountain travel-assisted search teams and rescue.
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 responded, according to the college’s statement.
Rohrich believed the students were well equipped and prepared for the trip.
“We’ve seen worst-case scenarios that ended positively,” Rohrich said. “So we’re keeping hope. The family’s keeping hope. They’re strong. And we’re going to keep pushing until the end.”
The search ended Wednesday afternoon.
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