Two Colorado College Students Die in Tragic Mountain Climbing Accident After ‘Catastrophic’ Anchor Failure

A weekend adventure in the Colorado mountains ended in tragedy for two college friends whose bodies were discovered after an extensive search involving rescue teams, helicopters, drones and search dogs. Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, had set out for a hiking and climbing trip but never returned to their campus. Days later, authorities found them in a remote, snow-covered basin on West Apostle Mountain. Now, investigators have revealed that a catastrophic failure in their climbing equipment caused the fatal fall.

The two students attended Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus. They left on October 23, 2026, initially planning to climb Ice Mountain in Chaffee County. When they failed to return as expected, college staff reported them missing on October 26. Search crews soon discovered their vehicle near a trailhead and later located their tent near Lake Ann. The tent had collapsed beneath heavy snow, while sleeping bags, clothing and a camping stove remained inside. Their belongings offered important clues, but the young men were nowhere to be found.

The search became increasingly difficult as severe weather swept through the area. Rain had fallen when the pair began their trip, followed by a powerful snowstorm that dropped up to two feet of snow in some locations. Around 60 volunteers and professional search personnel joined the operation, using helicopters, drones, dogs and ground teams to cover the rugged terrain. On October 28, authorities located the students’ bodies in a basin on West Apostle Mountain. Their remains were recovered by helicopter the following day after weather conditions complicated the operation.

On November 3, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office released the findings of their investigation. Autopsies determined that both students died instantly from multiple blunt-force injuries. Investigators concluded that they had fallen a substantial distance while rappelling after an anchor point experienced what authorities described as a “catastrophic failure of unknown cause.” Jackson was beginning his descent from a primary anchor attached to a rock surface. Although the system appeared to have additional protection from a piton and a secondary rock anchor, the entire setup failed. Kaden was connected to the same anchor system when the accident occurred.

Authorities also addressed the possibility that the severe snowstorm contributed to the tragedy. Although investigators could not determine whether the weather had negatively affected the climbing conditions, they said the storm was not a direct contributing factor in the deaths. Sheriff Andy Rohrich praised the young men for their preparation and experience, noting that investigators did not find obvious mistakes that could easily explain what happened. The precise reason the anchor failed remains unknown, leaving an important question unanswered even after the investigation established the cause of the fall.

Beyond the investigation, the loss has devastated the students’ families and the Colorado Mountain College community. Matsuda, from Ridgway, Colorado, was studying wildland firefighting and had already participated in service work after high school. Donlon, from Queensbury, New York, was studying outdoor recreation leadership and had come to Colorado to pursue his passion for climbing and skiing. The two became close friends through their shared love of the mountains. Sheriff Rohrich offered condolences to their loved ones, saying there was some comfort in knowing neither young man suffered. Their lives ended far too soon, but the friendship and passion for the outdoors that brought them together will remain part of how they are remembered.