The vast and unforgiving beauty of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains has claimed the life of an experienced adventurer. After a massive, multi-agency search spanning over a week, authorities have confirmed the tragic recovery of 38-year-old Grant Gardner, a solo hiker from Minnesota.

Gardner’s story began with ambition and connection. On July 29, 2025, he reached the summit of Cloud Peak, the majestic 13,167-foot crown of the wilderness area. From the top of the world, he made a final call to his wife, sharing his triumph but also expressing deep fatigue. It was the last time anyone would hear from him.

When he failed to return, the alarm was raised. The discovery of his vehicle at the remote West Ten Sleep trailhead confirmed his entry into the wilderness, launching a desperate race against time and the elements.

What followed was one of Wyoming’s most intensive search and rescue operations. The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office unified a small army of rescuers, drawing personnel and resources from Sheridan, Johnson, Washakie, Park, and even Teton County. The Wyoming Army National Guard provided crucial air support, while First Flight of Wyoming and private pilots scoured the jagged terrain from above. On the ground, elite canine teams tracked through dense forest and over rocky passes, while advanced FLIR infrared technology was deployed in hopes of detecting a heat signature amidst the cold rock.

The mission was relentlessly hampered by the very nature of the high-altitude wilderness—treacherous topography, brutal wind, and sudden, violent lightning storms. The conditions were so severe that at least two dedicated rescuers themselves required medical attention during the arduous operation.

Despite the heroic and coordinated efforts, the search ended in sorrow. Grant Gardner was located deceased, a devastating conclusion for his waiting family and the tight-knit community of responders. Sheriff Ken Blackburn expressed profound gratitude for the “extraordinary efforts” of every individual and agency involved, a testament to a community that rallied to bring one of its own home.

The loss of Grant Gardner serves as a solemn reminder of the profound risks inherent in solo high-altitude hiking, where a moment of fatigue or a sudden change in weather can have irreversible consequences. As the Gardner family mourns, authorities continue to piece together his final journey and urge anyone who may have encountered him before his hike to contact the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.

The silence that has returned to the Cloud Peak Wilderness is now a memorial, marking the end of a search defined by immense courage and a heartbreaking outcome.