Friends: pair planned Saturday return if unsafe, Sunday if hiking Ice Mountain
Colorado Mountain College said in a statement: “We are devastated by the loss of Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon, two members of our Colorado Mountain College community.”
“Our hearts are with their families, friends, classmates, faculty and everyone who knew and cared about them,” the college said. “Our focus tonight is on supporting those closest to Kaden and Jackson and making sure our Leadville students, faculty and staff have the emotional support they need in the difficult days ahead.”
According to friends, the pair planned to return from the hike on Saturday if they did not feel safe, and to return on Sunday if they continued to Ice Mountain, the sheriff’s office said.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said on social media late Wednesday that the two were found near each other earlier in the day in a basin at West Apostle Mountain. The sheriff’s office named the two as Kaden Matsudu, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20. Both attended Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus.
The men were reported missing Monday, and authorities determined they had planned to hike on Ice Mountain in northern Chaffee County.
It rained in the area on Friday and snowed on Saturday.
The sheriff’s office said foul play is not suspected, and autopsies will be conducted.