The body of an experienced hiker has been found on a 13,171-foot peak in Wyoming, weeks after he sent a haunting final text to his wife from the summit. Grant Gardner, 38, a father of two from Minnesota, had embarked on a three-day trek in the Bighorn Mountains in late July, aiming to reach the top of Cloud Peak.
When he reached the summit on the evening of July 29, he texted his wife, Lauren Gardner, saying he was 'more exhausted than expected'. It was the last communication she received from him. Gardner failed to return home, and by August 1 a search operation was under way after his vehicle was found still parked near the West Ten Sleep trailhead.
Search and rescue teams, including aircraft and ground personnel, combed the area for weeks but found no trace. The official search was called off on August 21, but hope remained. Then, on August 26, a team of professional climbers from North Carolina spotted a reflection under a ledge a few hundred feet above them, which they believed to be a backpack. They did not approach due to fading light, but alerted authorities.
On August 27, a helicopter reached the peak and located Gardner's remains close to the suspected backpack. The Big Horn County Sheriff's Office said his clothing blended very closely with the terrain, making the discovery difficult. The cause of death has not yet been determined, but investigators believe he suffered a tragic accident.
Lauren Gardner described the ordeal as 'the most excruciating roller coaster' and thanked the search teams. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $66,000 to support her and her children. The sheriff's office praised the climbers, saying their decision to stay put gave search teams the chance to bring closure to the family.
