Missing hiker found dead in Wyoming after extensive month-long search

BIG HORN COUNTY, Wyoming (ABC4) — Grant Gardner, from Minnesota, was reported as missing on August 1st, 2025, in the Wyoming Cloud Peak Wilderness. After almost a full month of search efforts, he has been found deceased.

According to the Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, they received a report that Grant Gardner was overdue from his hike. Gardner had planned a three-day hike and contacted his wife on July 29, 2025, to tell her he had summited Cloud Peak at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Reportedly, he also told his wife that the climb had been more difficult than expected and that he was tired. This was the last time anyone had contact with Grant Gardner.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office said, “the late summit of 7:00pm at 13,000 feet was and is concerning due to the lack of visible trails through cliffs, timber line, boulder fields, and other hazards that had to be navigated after dark before reaching clear trails and safe terrain.”

Search Efforts

On August 1, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office was informed that Gardner had not yet returned from his hike. They located his vehicle at the West Ten Sleep trailhead, where he had started the hike days earlier.

Between August 2 and August 26, 2025, multiple agencies across Wyoming and Minnesota and private individuals conducted search operations across the Cloud Peak Wilderness for Gardner. Reportedly, search efforts included drone searches, military grade detection equipment, horse and foot teams and several county search and rescue teams.

Courtesy: Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office

Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, U.S. Forest Service, and private pilots and individuals all contributed equipment, time, and efforts to the search, according to the Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office.

Teams conducted extensive searches in the wilderness, based on where Gardner could be. Unfortunately, on August 27, 2025, Gardner was found deceased.

Finding Gardner

According to Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, professional climbers summitted Cloud Peak and were descending on the northern route on August 26, 2025. They set up camp at a high altitude and, while doing so, spotted a reflective backpack several hundred feet above them, underneath a ledge.

The climbers notified the Sheriff’s Office and said they were confident it was a backpack. They also agreed to stay in the area to help search and rescue teams, rather than continue with their plans to summit Woolsey Peak the next day.

On August 27, 2025, search and rescue teams deployed to the area. They were able to locate the backpack and positively identify Grant Gardner’s remains near the backpack. The Sheriff’s Office also said they located Gardner in one of two primary search areas, which matched supposed scenarios.

Search and Rescue teams were able to recover Gardner’s body, and the case has been transferred to the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office has said they believe Gardner’s death was an accident.

Reportedly, Gardner was wearing clothing that matched the mountain terrain. That, in addition to the harsh terrain and snow cover above 10,000 feet made it difficult to locate him, officials say.

The Sheriff’s Office also thanked all of the agencies that contributed to the search, in addition to the climbing team that aborted their personal plans to help teams bring Gardner home. Sheriff Blackburn said, “While it’s not the outcome we hoped for, we are hopeful this will provide much needed peace and closure to the family.”