Missing Hiker Found in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains

A hiker from Minnesota, Grant Gardner, was discovered deceased on Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountain almost a month after he sent his last text message to his wife. Authorities reported that he never received a subsequent reply.

The 38-year-old’s body was located under a ledge near the summit of Cloud Peak by a professional climbing team from North Carolina, according to the Bighorn County Sheriff’s Office.

“That’s not the outcome we wanted, but we hope this brings some peace and closure to his family,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

Gardner had been reported missing on July 29 after hiking around the area of Mysty Moon Lake for three days before reaching Cloud Peak’s summit.

His final communication, dated July 29, indicated to his wife that climbing was tougher than he anticipated and that he was feeling quite fatigued.

Weeks later, search and rescue teams pursued leads without success. They scoured the wilderness around Cloud Peak while friends and family anxiously waited for news.

On August 26, while descending the northern route of Cloud Peak, a professional climbing team spotted what they thought was a backpack. Prompted by their observation, they contacted the sheriff’s office via satellite.

After confirming the site, rescuers found Gardner’s body alongside his backpack, which blended into the landscape, complicating their search efforts.

His family has since brought his remains home for burial.

Gardner, a father to two children aged 13 and 11, had been hiking for over a decade, often alone. His wife, Lauren, shared her disbelief during the search, reflecting on how surreal the experience felt. “He knows what he’s doing; he has the skills,” she emphasized, struggling to cope while supporting their kids.

The sheriff’s office has transferred the case to the Bighorn County Coroner’s Office for formal investigation regarding the cause of death. They suggested that Gardner likely succumbed to a tragic accident.

The climbing team expressed gratitude for the opportunity to assist, pointing out the importance of their timely intervention in locating Gardner.