Colorado Mountain College students Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, set out from the Leadville campus on Friday for a hike to Ice Mountain in Chaffee County. They were expected to return Saturday if conditions felt unsafe, or Sunday if they continued onward. When they failed to appear, college staff alerted the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

Search effort and findings

Sheriff’s deputies, along with search‑and‑rescue teams, began a coordinated effort Friday, despite rain that turned to snow Saturday afternoon. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew spotted an object near Lake Ann. Ground teams discovered it was the hikers’ tent, collapsed under the weight of fresh snow.

The tent contained the students’ sleeping bags, a stove and clothing, but no footprints were visible beneath the snow, suggesting the tent had been set up before the snowfall. Matsuda’s vehicle was located at the trailhead, covered by about eight inches of snow, yet no snow lay under the car, indicating it had been parked before the storm arrived.

Authorities’ assessment

Forensic analysis of the hikers’ phones showed no activity for the past 48 hours. Sheriff’s officials noted that service in the remote area is nearly nonexistent, and the students may have turned the phones off to conserve battery, lessening the urgency of the lack of calls.

Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said officials remain “optimistic” that the missing hikers are “hunkered down somewhere waiting to be rescued.” He warned that deteriorating weather later in the week could close the window for a safe recovery, prompting the department to allocate all available resources and consider alternate routes the students might have taken.

Mountain conditions and safety reminders

Ice Mountain is a technical climb that requires experienced hikers, especially when conditions are dry. This winter, the mountain received one to two feet of snow, with three to four feet in some drifts, creating hazardous sluffing and drifting. Authorities emphasized that proper clothing and equipment are essential for any backcountry excursion in the Rockies.

Colorado Mountain College faculty with mountain‑travel expertise have been assisting the search, providing both logistical support and moral encouragement to the students’ families.

Community response

Friends and family described Matsuda and Donlon as seasoned hikers who should have been prepared for changing weather. The community has rallied around the families, offering prayers, meals and support as the search continues.

Anyone with information about the hikers’ whereabouts is urged to contact the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office immediately.

Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.