Two Colorado Mountain College students found dead on West Apostle Mountain
The gist
Searchers found Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, dead in a West Apostle Mountain basin.
The pair had prepared for a technical climb, but heavy snow blocked their route.
How it unfolded
- Oct 23, 2026Matsuda and Donlon left the Colorado Mountain College Leadville Campus for a hike in Chaffee County, planning to hike Ice Mountain and return Oct. 24 or 25.
- Oct 24, 2026Snow fell, covering the mountain in ice and one to two feet of snow, with some areas up to four feet due to drifting.
- Oct 26, 2026College staff reported the students missing at about 10 a.m.; deputies found Matsuda's vehicle at the Mt. Huron trailhead under about 8 inches of snow, and phone data showed no use in 48 hours.