The body of Grant Gardner, a 38-year-old Minnesota hiker, was discovered under a ledge near the summit of Cloud Peak in Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, nearly a month after he reportedly sent his final text to his wife. The discovery was made by a professional climbing team from North Carolina, who had summited Cloud Peak and were descending the northern route of the peak when they noticed a backpack beneath a ledge. The sheriff’s office confirmed the find, stating that the case was transferred to the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office for further investigation. Authorities emphasized that the incident was a tragic accident, with no further details yet available on the cause of death.
Gardner went missing on July 29 in the Cloud Peak Wilderness, where he had planned a three-day hike through the Misty Moon Lake area before summiting Cloud, the highest peak in the Bighorn Mountains. Phone records showed that his last known contact with his wife was a message indicating the climb was more challenging than expected and that he was tired. Despite the search efforts led by the sheriff’s office, search and rescue teams, and volunteers, Gardner’s body was only found after the climbing team made the discovery. The sheriff’s office expressed its gratitude to the climbers for their role in the discovery, noting that their intervention provided much-needed closure to the family.
Lauren Gardner, Grant’s wife, stated that her husband had been hiking for over a decade and was known for his solo excursions. She described the event as surreal and expressed her shock, while also trying to remain strong for their two children, aged 13 and 11. The sheriff’s office reiterated that they were hopeful this finding would offer peace to the family. The case remains under investigation, with the coroner’s office determining the exact cause and time of death. However, authorities confirmed that a tragic accident was likely responsible for the incident, with no further details expected at this time.