Colorado College Students Die in Ice Mountain Rappelling Accident

Colorado College Students Die in Ice Mountain Rappelling Accident

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Colorado Mountain College students Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, died after a rappelling anchor failed on Ice Mountain in Chaffey County, Chaffey County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said on 4 November. The pair had gone missing on 26 October while backpacking on Ice Mountain, prompting intensified search efforts as weather worsened, authorities said.

Search crews later found a collapsed tent and the students' vehicle, and on 2 November the sheriff confirmed their bodies were recovered in a basin on West Apostle Mountain. The Guardian reported that investigators found no evidence of foul play.

Actors

Kaden Matsuda Jackson Donlon Andy Rohrich Chaffee County Sheriff's Office Colorado Mountain College

Locations

Leadville, Colorado, United States Ice Mountain, Chaffee County, Colorado, United States Chaffee County, Colorado, United States

Articles

November 04, 2026
1 total
Two Colorado college students die after rappelling accident on Ice Mountain
Two Colorado college students die after rappelling accident on Ice Mountain

NBC News • 04 Nov 15:07

Colorado Mountain College students Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, died when a rappelling anchor failed on Ice Mountain in Chaffee County, authorities said.

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October 29, 2026
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Two Colorado Mountain College students found dead after missing hike on West Apostle Mountain
Two Colorado Mountain College students found dead after missing hike on West Apostle Mountain

Fox News • 29 Oct 19:00

Colorado Mountain College students Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were discovered deceased on West Apostle Mountain following a multi-day search after they were reported missing.

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Two Colorado college hikers found dead after multi-day search
Two Colorado college hikers found dead after multi-day search

USA Today • 29 Oct 18:48

Two college students who disappeared while attempting a technical climb on Ice Mountain in Colorado were discovered deceased on Oct. 28, authorities said.

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Two Colorado college students found dead after missing on Rocky Mountains hike
Two Colorado college students found dead after missing on Rocky Mountains hike

The Guardian • 29 Oct 14:26

Two Colorado college students who disappeared during a weekend hike in the Rocky Mountains were discovered dead, authorities said, with investigations ongoing and no foul play suspected.

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Two Colorado Mountain College hikers found dead on West Apostle Mountain
Two Colorado Mountain College hikers found dead on West Apostle Mountain

KKTV • 29 Oct 03:09

Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich confirmed that Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon were discovered deceased in a basin on West Apostle Mountain after a multi-day search, with investigators awaiting autopsy results.

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October 28, 2026
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Colorado college students missing after Ice Mountain hike, search teams intensify efforts
Colorado college students missing after Ice Mountain hike, search teams intensify efforts

New York Post • 28 Oct 17:55

Two Colorado Mountain College students vanished while backpacking on Ice Mountain, and authorities say worsening weather is narrowing the window for a successful rescue.

Credibility 68% Manip. 12% Center

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