Mountains in October can change their mood within hours, like a door slamming shut. Two Colorado college students have been found dead after going missing during a hiking trip in the Rocky Mountains last weekend, when a heavy snowstorm hit, authorities said.

Where the Bodies Were Found

The bodies of Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, Colorado, and Jackson Donlon, 20, of Queensbury, New York, were found Wednesday afternoon in a basin of West Apostle Mountain, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Aspen, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on social media.

The Plan That Never Reached Sunday

The two left Colorado Mountain College Leadville’s campus Friday, telling family and friends they planned to hike Ice Mountain, a 13,958-foot (4,254-meter) peak near West Apostle Mountain that requires technical climbing, the sheriff’s office said. They were expected back Sunday. College staff reported them missing Monday morning.

Cause of Death Unknown

The sheriff’s office said the causes of death were under investigation, but foul play was not suspected. Authorities said they would offer no theories on what happened until autopsies are completed.

“Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends,” Sheriff Andy Rohrich said Wednesday night. “We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm. Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.”

Two Friends on America’s Highest City Campus

Matsuda and Donlon were outdoor enthusiasts who became fast friends at the small Leadville campus. The city bills itself as America’s highest at 10,119 feet (3,084 meters) above sea level. About 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Denver, it has roughly 2,600 residents and is flanked by some of Colorado’s tallest mountains.

Remembered by the College

Matsuda was studying to become a wildland firefighter. Classmates and faculty described him as kind, intelligent and welcoming, the college said in a written statement Thursday. Donlon, an avid climber and skier, was studying outdoor recreation leadership and had come to Colorado to pursue his love of the mountains.

“They came here to learn, to explore and to build their futures,” said campus dean Ben Cairns. “Their lives were full of promise, and their loss is felt deeply by the students, faculty and staff who knew them.”

The Search

About 60 search and rescue volunteers, aided by helicopters, drones and dogs, looked for the men. On Tuesday, a helicopter crew found a tent collapsed under snow near a lake northwest of Ice Mountain, with their sleeping bags, a stove and clothing nearby. The students were not there.

Waiting on the Wind

In a Thursday phone interview, the sheriff said the bodies remained in the basin and officials were waiting for gusty winds to calm so a helicopter crew could retrieve them.

Clues Left Behind

Based on the tent’s location, Rohrich said Matsuda and Donlon appeared to have changed plans and aimed for the 13,597-foot (4,144-meter) West Apostle Mountain instead. The location of the bodies suggested they were well into a hike when they died.

Prepared for a Technical Climb

Their climbing equipment was not in their dorms, tent or vehicle, suggesting they left camp ready for a technical climb. Trash inside the tent indicated they ate before starting out. Authorities had worried that aerial searches could be limited in coming days because of poor weather expected to begin Friday.

For two friends who came to the mountains to build their futures, the peaks that drew them in have left a campus and two families waiting for answers.