Two Colorado college students, Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, have been found dead after they went missing while hiking in Chaffee County. The pair, students at Colorado Mountain College Leadville, were reported missing on Monday after failing to return from a planned hike.

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office announced the discovery of the hikers on Wednesday afternoon via a social media post. Matsuda and Donlon had left the college campus on Friday for a hike, with plans to climb Ice Mountain, a challenging peak located in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, southeast of Aspen. Their vehicle was located at the trailhead.

According to friends interviewed by authorities, both students were described as experienced hikers and were expected to have appropriate gear. They had planned to return Saturday if conditions were unsafe, or Sunday if they proceeded to Ice Mountain. The sheriff's office stated that foul play is not suspected in their deaths, and theories will await autopsy results.

Search and rescue teams were deployed after the college reported them missing. Their phones had not been used for approximately 48 hours, but officials noted that this was not necessarily concerning given the remote area and potential for conserving battery life.

On Tuesday, a helicopter spotted an object near Lake Ann, which was later identified as the collapsed tent of the missing hikers. Search teams on foot found the tent, which contained sleeping bags, a stove, and clothing, but the students were not present. The sheriff's office noted that the absence of snow under the tent and footprints suggested the tent was set up before the recent snowfall.

Weather conditions in the area included rain on Friday and snow that began Saturday afternoon. Ice Mountain is described by the sheriff's office as a technically demanding climb, with recommendations for hikers to be appropriately equipped and experienced.

Further investigation into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and death is ongoing, pending the completion of autopsies. The sheriff's office has not released further details regarding the specific location where the students were found within the basin of West Apostle Mountain.

The discovery brings a tragic end to the search for the two young men, highlighting the inherent risks associated with hiking in challenging mountain environments, even for experienced individuals.