Chaffee County Sheriff's Office
ON THE RECORD · 10 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“is a very technical climb, and it is recommended that hikers be very experienced when trying to tackle it. That is when it is dry.”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office described Ice Mountain as a very technical climb recommended only for highly experienced hikers, even in dry conditions.
“should have had appropriate clothing,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said those close to the hikers described them as experienced hikers who should have had appropriate clothing.
“According to friends, Kaden and Jackson planned on returning from the hike on Saturday if they didn't feel safe. If they continued to Ice Mountain, they would return on Sunday,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said friends indicated the hikers planned to return Saturday if they felt unsafe, or Sunday if they continued to Ice Mountain.
“The service in the area would be almost nonexistent, and they certainly could have turned the phones off to preserve the batteries, which makes the 48 hours less concerning,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said phone service in the area was nearly nonexistent and the hikers may have turned their phones off to preserve batteries.
“Foul play is not suspected, and we will not offer theories as to what may have happened until an autopsy can be completed.”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said foul play is not suspected in the deaths of the two hikers and that an autopsy would be completed before offering theories.
“about eight inches of snow on the ground but none under the vehicle,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said Matsuda's car was found at the trailhead with about eight inches of snow on the ground but none under the vehicle.
“There was no snow under the tent and there were no visible footprints in the snow, which suggested, again, this was all in place before the snow came in. Their sleeping bags, a stove and some clothing were inside the tent, but Kaden and Jackson were not located.”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said the collapsed tent had no snow underneath and no visible footprints, suggesting it was in place before the snow came.
“A search team was sent in on foot to this area and discovered that the object was the hiker's tent that had collapsed under the weight of the snow,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said a search team sent in on foot near Lake Ann discovered the hikers' tent had collapsed under the weight of snow.
“Family and friends were interviewed, and it was learned that Kaden and Jackson planned on hiking Ice Mountain on the far north end of Chaffee County,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
Authorities said interviews with family and friends revealed that Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon planned to hike Ice Mountain in northern Chaffee County.
“in a basin of West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County,”
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office · said 2026-10-29 · reported 2026-10-29
The sheriff's office said the two missing hikers were found dead in a basin of West Apostle Mountain in Chaffee County.