Where Are Search Crews Looking for Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon Five Days Later?

 Five days after two college students set out toward Ice Mountain in Colorado and failed to return, search crews are still working across the rugged terrain, hoping to find them. The disappearance of Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, has brought together rescuers from several counties as their families wait for news from the mountain.

Matsuda, from Ridgway, and Donlon, from New York, were last heard from after leaving the Colorado Mountain College campus in Leadville on Friday, October 23. They had discussed their plans with friends, saying they would turn back on Saturday if the weather seemed unsafe or continue toward Ice Mountain on Sunday. Their decision was expected to depend on conditions in the mountains, where changing weather can make even familiar routes difficult. When neither young man returned, concern began to grow.

The pair were not reported missing until Monday morning, when the campus realized they were gone. Search efforts then focused on the route they may have taken and the areas surrounding the mountain. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew spotted their tent near Lake Ann. It had collapsed beneath fresh snow, while their gear remained inside. Searchers did not find tracks leading away from the campsite, leaving an important question unanswered: what happened after the two students reached that location?

The lack of footprints has complicated the search. Fresh snowfall might ordinarily preserve tracks in exposed areas, giving rescuers clues about which direction someone traveled. In this case, crews had not located a trail leading away from the tent. That absence does not establish what happened to Kaden and Jackson, but it has left investigators and searchers with limited evidence about their movements after the campsite was found. The mountain's terrain and weather conditions continue to shape where teams can safely look.

By Wednesday, the operation had expanded to include crews from five Colorado counties: Chaffee, Teller, Lake, Arapahoe and Park. Searchers were using several methods, including dogs, helicopters, drones and an aircraft equipped with infrared technology. Teams were examining both sides of Ice Mountain, covering areas the students may have approached while attempting to reach the summit. Dogs also worked the trailhead again as rescuers continued looking for any sign that could help narrow the search.

The families have described both students as experienced hikers who were dressed and equipped for the conditions they expected to encounter. Kaden was studying to become a wildland firefighter, while Jackson was training to become a mountain guide. Those interests suggest that time outdoors was an important part of their lives, although experience and preparation cannot eliminate every risk in difficult mountain conditions. Their families are now relying on the extensive search effort while waiting for information about what happened.

Sheriff Andy Rohrich has been involved in communicating about the search, and the families have remained focused on finding the two young men. The operation's expansion reflects the uncertainty surrounding their last known location and the need to examine a wider area. With multiple agencies and specialized equipment involved, rescuers are continuing to work across challenging terrain rather than limiting the effort to the area around the tent.

For the families and friends of Kaden and Jackson, each passing day brings more uncertainty, but the search has not ended. Their planned hike began as an outdoor trip between two young men with ambitions connected to the mountains and the natural world. Now, crews continue searching both sides of Ice Mountain, hoping to find answers and bring them home.