Two Colorado Mountain College hikers found dead on West Apostle Mountain

Chaffee County, Colo. – Sheriff Andy Rohrich announced Wednesday that the bodies of Colorado Mountain College students Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were recovered in a basin on West Apostle Mountain at about 3:30 p.m. The discovery follows several days of search operations involving roughly 60 volunteers, helicopters, drones, search dogs and beacon technology.

The students had been reported missing after failing to return from a weekend mountain trip that began with a planned camp near Ice Mountain. Authorities located their vehicle at a trailhead and later identified a collapsed tent in the basin, prompting an expanded search toward West Apostle Peak.

Colorado Mountain College issued a statement expressing sorrow for the loss and gratitude to the search and rescue teams. The college noted that faculty with mountain-travel expertise assisted the effort and that the institution had alerted officials on Monday when the students did not return.

Rohrich said investigators do not suspect foul play, but the cause and manner of death will be determined by autopsy. He warned that additional winter weather could hinder further rescue activities, potentially grounding aircraft and limiting drone use.

"We’re preparing for the worst and hoping for the best," Rohrich told 11 News.

The search concluded Wednesday afternoon, with authorities continuing to support the families while awaiting official findings.