Helicopter Recovers Bodies of Two Colorado Hikers After Gusty Winds Delay Rescue

Colorado Mountain College in Leadville serves as a base for students pursuing careers in the state’s outdoor recreation industry. On Thursday, police recovered the bodies of two students who died during a weekend hiking trip, ending a search that involved dozens of volunteers and aerial support.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were located in a snow-filled basin on West Apostle Mountain. Ground crews retrieved the bodies around 1 p.m. on Thursday. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office reported that gusty winds had delayed the helicopter recovery operations.

The pair departed from the college’s Leadville campus on Friday for a planned trip to Ice Mountain, a 13,958-foot peak. Rain was falling when they started, and a severe storm arrived on Saturday afternoon. Officials said the storm dumped up to two feet of snow. College staff reported the students missing on Monday morning, as the pair had been expected to return on Sunday.

Search and rescue teams, including about 60 volunteers, used helicopters, drones, and dogs to cover the area. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew found a tent collapsed under the snow near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain. The tent contained sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing. Sheriff Andy Rohrich noted that the location suggested the hikers had changed their plans to aim for West Apostle Mountain, which stands at 13,597 feet. The bodies were found about a mile from the tent, indicating they were well into their hike when they died.

Matsuda, from Ridgway, Colorado, was studying to become a wildland firefighter. Donlon, from Queensbury, New York, was studying outdoor recreation leadership. The college described them as close friends at the small campus, which sits at 10,119 feet. Ben Cairns, the campus dean, said in a statement that the students came to the school to learn and explore. He noted that their loss is deeply felt by the faculty and staff who knew them.

Donlon was an avid climber and skier. The Ski or Die NY group, which represents upstate New York skiers, identified him as one of the most ambitious skiers on the East Coast. The group said he became the youngest person to complete a 28-mile ski tour in the High Peaks last December. Rohrich credited the men for being prepared, stating that they used almost all the safety measures recommended for backcountry explorers.

Jason Marsteiner, founder of The Survival University, commented on the changing weather in Colorado’s mountains. He said the weather rolls in fast and the environment is unforgiving. The bodies were taken to the coroner’s office, and autopsies are scheduled for Monday. Authorities had expressed concern that poor weather expected to begin Friday could have limited further aerial searches.