Chaffee County, Colorado – Search crews are intensifying efforts to locate two missing Colorado Mountain College students after a collapsed tent was found near Lake Ann on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) confirmed the discovery and said the harsh winter conditions are making the mission especially difficult.
Who are the hikers?
Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgeway, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, are enrolled at the college’s Leadville campus. They departed campus on Friday, Oct. 23, intending to hike Ice Mountain, a technical climb in northern Chaffee County. Friends said the pair planned to return Saturday if conditions were unsafe, or Sunday if they continued to the summit.
Search timeline and resources
Deputies located Matsuda’s vehicle near the Mount Huron trailhead off County Road 390, close to Winfield, after the hikers failed to check in on Monday morning. The sheriff’s office reported that rain fell for several days before a heavy snowfall on Saturday afternoon. While about eight inches of snow covered the area around the vehicle, Ice Mountain received one to two feet, with drifts reaching three to four feet in some spots.
Because the mountain is encased in ice, accessing the snow‑covered boulder fields is extremely dangerous, and there is no suitable landing zone for a helicopter. Nevertheless, Chaffee County Search and Rescue teams began a coordinated effort on Monday, employing aircraft, helicopters, drones equipped with infrared technology, and search dogs. To date, no human tracks have been found in the fresh snow, and neither hiker has been located.
Evidence found
Investigators examined the men’s cellphones and found no activity in the previous 48 hours. Officials noted that cellular service in the remote area is limited, and the hikers may have turned off their phones to preserve battery life.
On Tuesday, a helicopter spotted an object near Lake Ann. A ground team discovered it was the hikers’ tent, which had collapsed under the weight of the snow. There was no snow beneath the tent and no visible footprints, suggesting the campsite was set up before the recent snowfall. Inside the tent were sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing, but the two students were not present.
Official statements
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said search crews are using all available resources as another round of poor weather is expected later this week. “Unfortunately, we still have not located Kaden and Jackson, and our hearts go out to their families,” Rohrich said. “We are still optimistic Kaden and Jackson are hunkered down somewhere waiting to be rescued.” He added that searchers are also considering alternative destinations the men may have headed toward instead of Ice Mountain.
Rohrich highlighted Matsuda’s goal of becoming a wildland firefighter and Donlon’s ambition to become a mountain guide, underscoring the community’s loss if the young men are not found.
How the public can help
Sheriff’s Office officials asked residents to keep the families in their thoughts and to report any information that might aid the search. They also urged anyone traveling in the area to stay informed about weather conditions and to exercise caution on the mountain trails.
As the search continues, the CCSO says 50 searchers from multiple agencies—including teams from Teller, Lake, Arapaho, and Park counties—have returned to the area. The department remains committed to using every tool at its disposal to bring Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon home safely.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
