Helicopter crews recover bodies of two college students after storm traps them in Colorado basin

Gusty winds grounded search helicopters for nearly two days before crews could lower the bodies of two college students from a snow-filled basin on West Apostle Mountain. Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office officials confirmed the recovery at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, ending a search that began when the pair failed to return from a planned weekend trip.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, departed from the Colorado Mountain College campus in Leadville on Friday. They intended to summit Ice Mountain, a peak standing at 13,958 feet. Rain greeted them at the start of the hike. Although conditions cleared briefly on Saturday morning, a severe storm arrived that afternoon and deposited up to two feet of snow. The students were scheduled to return by Sunday, but campus staff reported them missing on Monday morning.

Search efforts involved roughly 60 volunteers, alongside helicopters, drones, and tracking dogs. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew located a collapsed tent near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain. The site contained sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing, but the students were not inside. Based on the tent's position, Sheriff Andy Rohrich stated that the hikers likely altered their plans to target West Apostle Mountain, which stands at 13,597 feet. Their bodies were found about one mile from the tent, indicating they were well into their ascent when the storm hit.

Officials noted that the students’ climbing gear was absent from their dorm rooms, vehicles, and the tent, suggesting they prepared for a technical climb. Trash found inside the shelter indicated they had eaten before departing. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office transported the bodies to the coroner’s office, with autopsies scheduled for Monday.

Matsuda, who lived in Ridgway, Colorado, was studying to become a wildland firefighter. Donlon, from Queensbury, New York, was pursuing a degree in outdoor recreation leadership. Ski or Die NY, a local group, identified Donlon as the youngest person to complete a 28-mile ski tour in the High Peaks region last December. Ben Cairns, the campus dean, said the students came to the institution to learn and explore, adding that their loss is felt deeply by the community.

Sheriff Rohrich praised the men's preparation in a social media post, stating that they employed almost all recommended safety measures for backcountry exploration. He acknowledged that while the hikers were capable, the mountain environment remained unpredictable. Jason Marsteiner, founder of The Survival University, described the local terrain as steep and unforgiving, noting how quickly weather systems can roll in at high elevations.