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Started By
Message
re: Minnesota hiker vanishes in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains. Update: Found deceased.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:37 pm to Lou Loomis
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:37 pm to Lou Loomis
quote:Might have not had a signal until the summit, as being in the signals shadow or below . So he called when able. Had that happen a bunch out west. That's pretty damn late to be that high up. Lightnings a fairly common afternoon occurrence. But I don't know that area from a hiking perspective.
The messages to the wife if “hey honey I’m at the summit” seemed like an odd thing to do.
1
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:40 pm to awestruck
Typically out west you want to summit no later than 2PM.
Posted on 8/14/25 at 10:41 pm to Lexis Dad
quote:
This has never happened in all the years he’s gone out
Well, dying alone in the wilderness tends to only happen once
Posted on 8/15/25 at 6:01 am to fr33manator
Update:
LINK
Significant resources deployed in Wyoming hunt for hiker who disappeared in 'unforgiving' Bighorn Mountains
Since our last update considerable resources and man power have been deployed in the search for Grant Gardner," Sheriff Ken Blackburn noted in the post, noting that the effort "has been very active."
"To illustrate what is being done to search, the following is a partial list of assets and personnel who are currently, or have been working directly on this search," the post notes, before going on to list various resources, such as "Drones with cameras, capable of identifying colors and minute disturbances," "Drones, helicopters, and planes with FLIR capabilities," "Multiple dog tracking teams," "Horse and foot teams," "Wyoming National Guard," "Private pilots," and more.
The post on Monday — which was the latest update on the Facebook page — described the area as "unforgiving," and noted, "The Cloud Peak Wilderness is deceptively expansive, remote, and snow is starting to fall at higher elevations above 10,000 feet. Very thorough searches of these areas have been performed. Mr. Gardner could plausibly be in several areas and routes, all of which have been extensively searched."
The last contact from Gardner was more than two weeks ago, on July 29, when he informed his wife that he had reached the summit of Cloud Peak, according to an Aug. 4 Facebook post from the sheriff's office.
"On August 1, 2025 the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding an over due hiker in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, and immediately began a search and rescue operation," the post noted.
LINK
Significant resources deployed in Wyoming hunt for hiker who disappeared in 'unforgiving' Bighorn Mountains
Since our last update considerable resources and man power have been deployed in the search for Grant Gardner," Sheriff Ken Blackburn noted in the post, noting that the effort "has been very active."
"To illustrate what is being done to search, the following is a partial list of assets and personnel who are currently, or have been working directly on this search," the post notes, before going on to list various resources, such as "Drones with cameras, capable of identifying colors and minute disturbances," "Drones, helicopters, and planes with FLIR capabilities," "Multiple dog tracking teams," "Horse and foot teams," "Wyoming National Guard," "Private pilots," and more.
The post on Monday — which was the latest update on the Facebook page — described the area as "unforgiving," and noted, "The Cloud Peak Wilderness is deceptively expansive, remote, and snow is starting to fall at higher elevations above 10,000 feet. Very thorough searches of these areas have been performed. Mr. Gardner could plausibly be in several areas and routes, all of which have been extensively searched."
The last contact from Gardner was more than two weeks ago, on July 29, when he informed his wife that he had reached the summit of Cloud Peak, according to an Aug. 4 Facebook post from the sheriff's office.
"On August 1, 2025 the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding an over due hiker in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, and immediately began a search and rescue operation," the post noted.
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:12 am to baldona
quote:
1.) where was he camping that day? 2.) when he summitted did he have all his camping gear? 3.) why summit so late on this sort of trip? 4.) where was he camping that night? 5.) was there anyone else on the trail that saw him?
If they can’t find any signs of his campsite or any claims of seeing him that would align with his summit timing, at some point you’ve gotta conclude he staged this and move on. They already said they’ve extensively checked the routes he could’ve taken.
This post was edited on 8/15/25 at 7:13 am
Posted on 8/15/25 at 7:29 am to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
If they can’t find any signs of his campsite or any claims of seeing him that would align with his summit timing, at some point you’ve gotta conclude he staged this and move on. They already said they’ve extensively checked the routes he could’ve taken.
I don’t know that area or the trail, but if he started at 13,000 with his pack for 3 days then getting to a good camping spot in 2 hours is certainly very feasible. People camp at 8,000-11,000 ft all the time.
Was there no one else that saw him on the trail? The trail has that few of people?
Guy has kids 11 and 13, sure odd to go on solo hikes when kids that age can join you very easily.
It looks like people do that ascent in 7-10 hours, if he was there for a night it sure seems odd he didn’t summit until 7pm. Seems like he maybe was either hurt or as said this was a scam and he is hiding. I would hope with all those resources looking for him, they have someone looking into his past and if he could be hiding. If he was hiding, it still seems dumb to make the ascent at 7pm when he could have made it at 3-5pm which would still be late but plenty of time to descend comfortably.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 3:49 am to baldona
quote:
?
Sheridan Media
News
Climbers Find Remains Of Grant Gardner Near Cloud Peak
?
Published
14 hours ago
on
August 28, 2025
By
News Release
?
Photo Courtesy: Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff's Office
On Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 during the late afternoon/ early evening hours, a professional climbing team from North Carolina summited Cloud Peak and descended on the northern route of the peak, prior to a summit attempt on Woolsey Peak the next day.
The climbers made a high altitude camp for the evening.
While making camp the climbers noticed a slight reflection a few hundred feet above them underneath a ledge.
The climbers were confident it was a backpack.
Due to the rapidly approaching darkness, further investigation was too dangerous.
The climbing team notified the Sheriff’s Office via satellite of their finding and graciously agreed to abort their plans and wait for SAR teams to arrive at daylight.
During the night teams prepared for another mission.
Spot weather forecasts revealed a very narrow window before an impending weather system moved in.
Teams launched on 8/27/2025 from the Greybull Airport and West Ten Sleep Trailhead.
First Flight of Wyoming approved a final flight, and transported the teams to the North Carolina climber’s high altitude camp.
The SAR Team and climbers gained access to the area.
Grant Gardner’s remains were located near the backpack.
Gardner was wearing clothing that very closely matched the terrain he was climbing in.
A difficult/dangerous recovery was conducted and Grant Gardner is being brought home to his family.
Gardner’s body was located in 1 of the 2 primary search areas, very closely matching one of the highest probability scenarios.
The case has been transferred to the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office to determine time, manner and cause of death.
This transition is routine per State Statute guidelines.
The Big Horn County, Wyoming Sheriff says he believes Gardner succumbed to a tragic accident as many have surmised.
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.
Information Courtesy: Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office
LINK
Posted on 8/29/25 at 4:53 am to Jim Rockford
Dang. So he may have fallen on the way back down?
Posted on 8/29/25 at 6:02 am to Jim Rockford
Died doing what he loved.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 6:11 am to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
some point you’ve gotta conclude he staged this and move on
Not really. You can also conclude he died
Posted on 8/29/25 at 6:13 am to weagle1999
I’m no mountaineer but damn man…you have to be smarter than that. Especially when you have a family. Going solo, summiting late, probably disoriented in the dark trying to find your way off the top of a mountain.
I’d rather dig in and risk freezing than falling off a cliff.
I’d rather dig in and risk freezing than falling off a cliff.
This post was edited on 8/29/25 at 6:15 am
Posted on 8/29/25 at 7:06 am to SquatchDawg
At least there's closure.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 7:56 am to Jim Rockford
quote:
Gardner was wearing clothing that very closely matched the terrain he was climbing in.
Bad mistake.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 8:19 am to Lexis Dad
quote:
The missing 38-year-old is a father of two children, ages 13 and 11, the outlet reported.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but when you’re a husband and father with a family counting on you, you should not do things like go on 3-day solo hikes in remote areas and climbing 13,000’ mountains.
Now his poor wife has lost her husband and is left to finish raising their two boys, who’ve lost their father, on her own.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 8:24 am to weagle1999
quote:
Died doing what he loved.
Impacting rocks at 100mph?
Posted on 8/29/25 at 8:31 am to SquatchDawg
quote:
I’d rather dig in and risk freezing than falling off a cliff.
I'm fairly certain you won't have any dissenters of this statement.
Posted on 8/29/25 at 9:00 am to SquatchDawg
quote:
I’d rather dig in and risk freezing than falling off a cliff.
Yep.
Pull out your thermal blanket and your sleeping bag, and hunker down for the night. This is Hopefully where your sleeping bag is rated for 20 degrees F
This post was edited on 8/29/25 at 9:02 am
Posted on 8/29/25 at 9:02 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
Probably an unpopular opinion, but when you’re a husband and father with a family counting on you, you should not do things like go on 3-day solo hikes in remote areas and climbing 13,000’ mountains. Now his poor wife has lost her husband and is left to finish raising their two boys, who’ve lost their father, on her own.
He should’ve taken his boys with him.
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