Students Die in Colorado Rappelling Fall
Two Colorado Mountain College students died after a rock anchor gave way while rappelling on West Apostle Mountain.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Skiing
Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, fell a long distance while rappelling in the Colorado mountains after a rock anchor gave way. Authorities recovered their bodies from a snow-filled basin of West Apostle Mountain, and an autopsy found both died instantly from multiple blunt force injuries.
Why it matters
The deaths highlight the risks of mountain climbing and rappelling, even on trips that begin as planned. Authorities said the pair appeared to switch from their intended objective, Ice Mountain, to West Apostle Mountain during a weekend trip that began from Colorado Mountain College's Leadville campus.
Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon died from multiple blunt force injuries, and the autopsy found both died instantly. Up to 2 feet of snow fell after the pair began hiking, though the storm was not a direct factor in the fall.
The players
Colorado Mountain College
A public community college system in Colorado whose Leadville campus was the departure point for the students' weekend trip.
Chaffee County Sheriff's Office
The county law enforcement agency that investigated the incident and recovered the students' bodies from West Apostle Mountain.
The details
Donlon was starting to rappel from an anchor point, backed up by other protections, when the rock likely gave way, and Matsuda was attached to the same anchor. The two students fell a long distance into a snow-filled basin before their bodies were recovered last week.
Timeline
Students set out from Colorado Mountain College's Leadville campus on a weekend trip (date not specified).
Bodies were recovered last week.
Authorities announced the cause of the fall and autopsy results on Tuesday.
Season Trajectory
The fatal fall occurred on a route within the Colorado high country, where mountain conditions can change rapidly during winter storms. The incident underscores how weather and anchor reliability factor into rappelling safety for groups departing from college-affiliated outdoor programs.
Anyone planning rappelling or mountain trips should verify anchor integrity and weather forecasts before departure. Trips launched from campus outdoor programs in winter months carry heightened exposure to sudden storms and snow loading.
The takeaway
Checking anchor points, carrying backup protection, and monitoring storm forecasts can reduce the risk of falls during technical climbs. Groups should confirm objectives and routes before heading into high terrain.
Further reading
For more on mountain conditions and outdoor safety across the state, see Skiing coverage in Colorado.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Seattle Times.
