JACKSON, Wyo. — Missing hiker Grant Gardner has been found deceased in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, according to an announcement by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office (BHCSO).
Gardner, from Minnesota, had been missing in the Bighorn Mountains since July 29. He had planned a three-day hike through the Misty Moon Lake area, with plans to summit Cloud Peak and return to his vehicle afterward. Gardner last made contact with his wife on the evening of July 29, letting her know he’d made it to the summit. The search was called off last week by Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn.
Gardner was located thanks to a professional climbing team from North Carolina who had made a high-altitude camp on its descent of the northern route of Cloud Peak on the evening of Aug. 26, BHCSO reported.
“While making camp the climbers noticed a slight reflection a few hundred feet above them underneath a ledge,” the announcement states. “The climbers were confident it was a backpack.” The climbing team contacted BHCSO via satellite and waited for search and rescue teams to arrive at daylight.
Gardner’s remains were located near the backpack the next day, Aug. 27.
“Gardner was wearing clothing that very closely matched the terrain he was climbing in,” BHCSO’s announcement reads. “A difficult/dangerous recovery was conducted and Grant Gardner is being brought home to his family.”
BHCSO noted that the case is being handed over to the local coroner’s office to determine time, manner and cause of death, per state statute.
“We believe Gardner succumbed to a tragic accident as we all have surmised,” the announcement states.
BHCSO added that Gardner’s body was located in one of its two primary search areas, which had been searched “by air and other means, underscoring how difficult this mission has been.”
“While it’s not the outcome we hoped for, we are hopeful this will provide much needed peace and closure to the family,” BHCSO stated.
Teton County Search and Rescue participated in the original rescue mission, along with other regional search and rescue teams.
“Special thanks to a spectacular professional group of technical climbers who were in exactly the right spot, at the right moment, with the right light, to notice a small piece of fabric on a pack that was otherwise undetectable, for selflessly aborting their plans and working with SAR Teams to find Gardner, providing closure to his family,” BHCSO stated.
