Hikers aged 19 and 20 found dead after going on expedition to Colorado’s Ice Mountain
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead near West Apostle Mountain in Colorado after failing to return from a hike they began on 23 October. Their deaths prompted a large search, and authorities say they are not suspecting foul play; the cause will not be determined until an autopsy is completed.
College staff reported the students missing on 26 October, and nearly 50 searchers used dogs, drones, helicopters and infrared-equipped aircraft. Their car was found under about eight inches of snow, and their tent had collapsed under the snow’s weight. The pair were experienced hikers who had planned a route to the 13,958-foot Ice Mountain, but their technical climbing footwear and equipment were missing from the tent.
In short
- Two college hikers were found dead after going missing in Colorado.
- Their tent had collapsed beneath heavy snow.
- Authorities are awaiting autopsy results and suspect no foul play.
Explained simply
Ice Mountain is a high peak in Colorado’s Sawatch Range, a mountainous area where weather and snow can make hiking and climbing hazardous. At nearly 14,000 feet, the route involves high altitude and, depending on conditions, technical climbing.
Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were college students who set out on an expedition in the area. Searchers looked for them after they did not return, using ground teams, dogs and aircraft to cover the remote terrain.
The search brought attention to the risks of winter conditions in Colorado’s mountains, even for experienced hikers. The circumstances of the deaths remain under investigation, with the cause to be established by an autopsy.