Two Colorado college students died after falling a significant distance while rappelling on West Apostle Mountain, where the rock supporting their climbing anchor likely broke loose, investigators said Tuesday.
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, suffered fatal injuries during a climbing trip in Chaffee County. Their bodies were recovered on October 28 in a snow-covered basin near West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles southeast of Aspen.
An autopsy found that both students died instantly from multiple blunt force injuries, according to a joint statement from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the county coroner’s office.
Investigators determined that the students were using a climbing anchor system when it suffered a major failure. Donlon was preparing to rappel from the main anchor point when the rock supporting the equipment apparently gave way. Matsuda was connected to the same anchor system.
Both men then fell what authorities described as a substantial distance. However, investigators could not determine the exact length of the fall or the specific reason the anchor failed.
The investigation also found that the severe snowstorm that struck the Colorado mountains was not a direct cause of their deaths. Although the storm created difficult conditions in the area, authorities said the fatal incident resulted from the climbing anchor failure.
Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the two students had prepared for their outdoor trip and showed a strong understanding of mountain activities.
“In most similar cases that have led to a devastating conclusion we find it easy to pick apart what was done wrong,” Rohrich said. “That was not the case with Kaden and Jackson.”
The sheriff’s statement also recognized the students’ love of climbing and the outdoors, describing them as young men who spent their time exploring the mountains they admired.
Fatal Fall Linked to Climbing Anchor Failure
The investigation revealed that Donlon was starting a rappel from a primary anchor point attached to a rock surface. The setup also included additional safety protections, including a piton and a second anchor connected to another rock surface.
Matsuda was attached to the same anchor points through his personal anchor device. This meant both climbers were connected to the system when it failed.
According to the sheriff’s office, the anchor experienced a catastrophic failure. Authorities have not determined what caused the rock or anchor system to give way.
The failure caused both students to fall a considerable distance. Investigators did not provide an exact measurement of the fall, but the impact caused injuries that killed both men instantly.
The findings came after autopsies were completed Monday in El Paso County. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office also conducted a wider investigation to establish what happened during the climbing trip.
Authorities said they could not confirm whether the heavy snowfall had any indirect effect on the climbing incident. However, they made clear that the weather was not a direct contributing factor in the deaths.
The distinction was important because the two students had initially been reported missing after a powerful snowstorm moved through the Colorado mountains. The storm brought as much as 2 feet of snow to higher elevations, making the search for the missing climbers more difficult, ColoradoSun reported.
Despite the dangerous weather, investigators did not blame the storm for the fatal fall. Their findings instead pointed to the failure of the rock-based climbing anchor.
The sheriff’s office also said the investigation did not uncover clear mistakes in the students’ preparation that would explain the tragedy.
Rohrich praised their approach to outdoor activities and said his staff would remember them as examples of proper preparation.
Missing College Students Found After Snowstorm
Matsuda and Donlon were students at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus. They had planned a weekend climbing trip that was expected to take them to Ice Mountain, a 13,958-foot peak in the Colorado Rockies.
However, the pair appeared to change their plans and head toward nearby West Apostle Mountain, which stands 13,597 feet above sea level.
Previous reports from the sheriff’s office said the students began hiking on October 23 in the Ice Mountain area. They were expected to return on Sunday, but they did not come back as planned.
College staff reported the two men missing on October 26 after they failed to return from their trip.
Search and rescue teams began looking for them in the mountain area. The search took place after a major storm brought heavy snowfall to the region.
Rescuers eventually located the students’ tent near Lake Ann. Inside, they found sleeping bags, a camping stove and clothing. The discovery suggested that the men had established a campsite during their trip. However, the two students were not inside the tent.
Search teams later found their bodies about a mile away in a snow-filled basin at the base of West Apostle Mountain. The location was part of the high mountain area where the students had gone climbing.
The discovery ended the search but left investigators with questions about how the two men died. The autopsy results and the review of their climbing equipment later provided a clearer picture of the incident.
Authorities said the students were rappelling when the anchor system failed, causing the fatal fall.
Rappelling is a climbing method that allows a person to move down a steep rock face or mountain using a rope and an anchor. The anchor is a key part of the safety system because it holds the equipment and supports the climber’s weight.
In this case, the anchor was connected to rock surfaces and included additional protections. However, the system still failed while the students were using it.
Investigators have not announced a confirmed explanation for the failure.
Students Bond Over Colorado Mountains
Matsuda and Donlon had become close friends while attending Colorado Mountain College in Leadville.
Matsuda, who was from Ridgway, Colorado, was studying to become a wildland firefighter. His studies were connected to work that involves responding to fires in forests and other outdoor areas.
Donlon, 20, came from Queensbury, New York. He was studying outdoor recreation leadership and had a strong interest in climbing and skiing. He moved to Colorado to follow his passion for the mountains and outdoor activities.
Their college was located in Leadville, a mountain community about 100 miles west of Denver. According to AP News, the city sits 10,119 feet above sea level and is known as America’s highest city. With a population of about 2,600, Leadville is surrounded by some of Colorado’s tallest peaks.
Colorado Mountain College offers programs connected to the state’s outdoor recreation industry. Its courses include areas such as mountaineering, ski patrol and outdoor guiding.
The school’s programs prepare students for careers that involve working in mountain environments and helping people take part in outdoor activities.
Matsuda and Donlon were among the students who shared an interest in these activities. Their climbing trip reflected the outdoor interests that had brought them together at the college.
According to the sheriff’s office, it was raining when the two men started hiking. A severe storm later moved into the area and covered higher mountain elevations with heavy snow.
Although the weather created challenges for search teams, authorities said it did not directly cause the students’ fatal injuries.
Sheriff Rohrich expressed sympathy for their families and friends, saying the two young men had spent their lives seeking the freedom and views that come with exploring high mountain areas. He also said their final moments were spent together in the mountain landscape they loved.
“While their lives were far too short, they spent their final moments together surrounded by the majestic beauty of Chaffee County’s high peaks that they loved,” Rohrich said. “There is also relief knowing neither of them suffered.”
The sheriff added that his staff would remember the students for their preparation and commitment to outdoor activities. He also acknowledged the difficulty of finding words that could ease the pain of their families and friends.
The deaths of Matsuda and Donlon have brought attention to the risks of technical climbing in Colorado’s high mountains, where climbers depend on ropes, anchors and other equipment to move safely across steep terrain.
