Climbers aid in recovery of Minnesota hiker’s remains

Grant Gardner of Minnesota was found deceased in the Cloud Peak Wilderness on Wednesday, Aug. 27. 

“A difficult, dangerous recovery was conducted, and Grant Gardner is being brought home to his family,” Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn said in a press release. 

The release reported that a professional climbing team from North Carolina set up a high altitude camp on the northern descent of Cloud Peak on route to Woolsey Peak the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 26. They noticed a reflection a few hundred feet above them under a ledge, which they determined was from a backpack. The team notified BHSCO via satellite and planned to wait for SAR teams to arrive at daylight. 

“During the night our teams prepared for another mission. Spot weather forecasts revealed a very narrow window before an impending weather system moved in,” Blackburn said in the release. 

First Flight of Wyoming approved a final flight and transported SAR teams to the climbers’ camp on Wednesday, Aug. 27, where SAR and climbers were then able to gain access to the location in question. Gardner’s remains were reportedly found near the backpack. 

Rescue efforts had previously been called off on Aug. 20 after a 20-day search involving an extensive list of SAR personnel and technologies. Reportedly, Gardner’s body was located in one of the two primary search areas that had been determined, closely matching one of the highest probability scenarios. Blackburn noted that the area had been covered by air and other means. Gardner’s clothing closely matched the color of the terrain. 

The case has been transferred to Big Horn County Coroner’s Office to determine time, manner and cause of death. 

“This transition is routine per state statute guidelines. Nothing should be read into this transition. We believe Gardner succumbed to a tragic accident as we all have surmised,” Blackburn said in the release.