Autopsy reveals climbing anchor failure caused deaths of two Colorado college students

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office and the county coroner's office announced on Tuesday that two college students found dead in the Colorado mountains last week died when a climbing anchor failed. The release stated that Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, fell a substantial distance and died instantly from multiple blunt force injuries.

The bodies of the two students were recovered in a snow-filled basin on West Apostle Mountain. This peak is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Aspen. While the exact length of the fall was not determined by officials, the impact proved fatal for both climbers.

Sheriff Andy Rohrich noted that the heavy snowstorm that hit the area was not considered a direct factor in the accident. He emphasized that the students were well prepared for their trip and demonstrated a strong love for the outdoors. Rohrich stated that unlike many similar tragic cases, it was not easy to identify specific errors in the students' actions.

According to the statement, the pair had departed from the Leadville campus of Colorado Mountain College for what was intended to be a weekend climbing trip. Although they initially planned to climb Ice Mountain, a 13,958-foot peak, they switched their target to West Apostle Mountain, which stands at 13,597 feet.

The accident occurred while Donlon was beginning to rappel from an anchor point on the rock face. The primary anchor suffered a catastrophic failure, despite being reinforced by a metal spike in the rock and a secondary anchor. Matsuda was attached to the same anchor points at the time of the failure.

Rohrich offered condolences to the families, highlighting that the students spent their final moments together surrounded by the high peaks of Chaffee County. He expressed relief that neither student suffered during the incident, acknowledging that their lives were cut short far too soon.

Colorado Mountain College is recognized for its programs that focus on the state's outdoor recreation economy, including careers in mountaineering, ski patrol, and guiding. The Leadville campus, where the students were enrolled, is situated in the city of Leadville, which is known as the highest city in the United States at 10,119 feet above sea level.

Matsuda was from Ridgway, Colorado, and was studying to become a wildland firefighter. Donlon was from Queensbury, New York, and was pursuing a degree in outdoor recreation leadership. He had moved to Colorado specifically to pursue his passion for the mountains. The two became close friends at the small college campus.

The weather conditions during the trip began with rain as the students started their hike. Later, a severe storm arrived in the area, dumping up to two feet of snow on the region.

The findings provide a clearer picture of the mechanics behind the tragedy, confirming that the structural failure of the climbing equipment was the primary cause of the fatal falls.