Colorado College Students Missing After Snowy Hike on Ice Mountain
Search teams have discovered a collapsed tent but no sign of the hikers, Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon, as severe weather hampers efforts.
Two college students from Colorado Mountain College in Leadville have been reported missing after embarking on a backpacking trip on Ice Mountain over the weekend. Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, began their hike on Friday on the nearly 14,000-foot peak.
According to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s office, the students had planned to return by Saturday if conditions were unsafe, or Sunday if weather permitted. However, the forecast shifted dramatically, with heavy snow beginning to fall around 1 p.m. on Saturday, creating hazardous road conditions.
Search crews deployed by helicopter on Tuesday located one of the students’ tents, which had collapsed under the snow. Sleeping bags and clothing were found inside, but the students themselves were not present. Authorities stated that the window to locate them safely is narrowing.
Ice Mountain is situated on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in Chaffee County. The region is known for its challenging terrain and susceptibility to rapid weather changes, especially during the colder months.