The body of a missing hiker has been discovered a month after he disappeared in the Wyoming Mountains, leading to a challenging and hazardous recovery operation. Grant Gardner, aged 38, who was last heard from on July 29 after reaching the Cloud Peak summit, was found deceased in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, as confirmed by the Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, August 28.
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According to a release by the Sheriff’s Office, Gardner was located near his backpack by a team of climbers from North Carolina who were descending from Cloud Peak during the late afternoon/early evening of August 26. These climbers spotted a slight reflection a few hundred feet above them under a ledge, which they identified as a backpack but were unable to investigate further due to darkness.
The climbers informed the Sheriff’s Office about their discovery, leading to a search and rescue operation that was launched on August 27 from the Greybull Airport and West Ten Sleep Trailhead. With the help of First Flight of Wyoming, the SAR Team and climbers were able to access the area where Gardner was found near his backpack. The recovery operation was described as difficult and dangerous.
Authorities stated that Gardner’s body was located in one of the primary search areas, aligning closely with one of the highest probability scenarios. The Big Horn County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and time of Gardner’s death, with initial belief suggesting he succumbed to a tragic accident.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude towards the professional climbers for their keen observation and assistance in locating Gardner, providing closure to his family. Despite previous extensive efforts to find Gardner, including aerial searches, the discovery was a result of the climbers’ alertness and collaboration with the SAR Teams.
The tragic news of Gardner’s fate comes after weeks of hope and uncertainty for his wife, Lauren Gardner, and their two children, ages 11 and 13. Lauren had been optimistic about her husband’s safe return, highlighting his experience and skills as an outdoorsman who had been hiking for over a decade.
Gardner had embarked on a three-day hiking trip in the Misty Moon Lake area with the intent of summiting Cloud Peak before returning to his vehicle. His last communication with his wife indicated reaching the summit but feeling fatigued. The details of the case are currently under investigation by the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office.
The community and authorities alike have expressed condolences to the Gardner family, acknowledging the dedication of search and rescue teams and the outdoor community in supporting the retrieval efforts. While the outcome was not what many had hoped for, the discovery brings closure to a period of uncertainty for Gardner’s loved ones.