Two college students who vanished while attempting to climb a Colorado mountain were found dead after a powerful snowstorm swept through the area, authorities said.
Jackson Donlon, 20, of New York, and 19-year-old Kaden Matsuda, both students at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, disappeared over the weekend while climbing Ice Mountain, a peak approaching 14,000 feet. The storm reportedly left about two feet of snow across the region.
Search crews found the men near one another Wednesday in a basin on a nearby mountain, roughly half a mile from Ice Mountain, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said as it announced the deaths with “profound sadness.”
“Foul play is not suspected,” the sheriff’s department said. Officials added that they would not speculate about the circumstances until autopsies are complete.
“Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” the department said.
“Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.”
Matsuda, an aspiring wildland firefighter from Ridgway, Colorado, and Donlon left campus Friday before beginning their trip. They were reported missing Monday after failing to return.
The students had told friends they expected to be back on campus by Sunday. Concern grew when they still had not returned by Monday.
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A storm battered the mountains during their hike, covering the area with approximately two feet of snow, according to the Colorado Sun.
Search teams used infrared-equipped drones, helicopters and K9 units in the effort. None produced a confirmed sighting of either student.
Investigators determined that neither hiker had used a cellphone in the previous 48 hours. Authorities believed the devices may have been turned off to conserve battery power.
The students’ tent was discovered Tuesday, collapsed beneath the weight of the snow. The pair, however, was nowhere to be found.
Inside the tent, investigators found sleeping bags, a camping stove and clothing.
Deputies also located Matsuda’s car. About eight inches of snow had accumulated around the vehicle, though officials noted that no snow was underneath it.
Even after those discoveries, authorities continued to hold out hope that the students might be alive.
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said Tuesday that he remained optimistic the students could be “hunkered down somewhere waiting to be rescued.”
He pointed to Donlon’s background and training as a prospective mountain guide as one reason he was trying to remain hopeful.