A hiker from Minnesota has been missing for over a week after vanishing in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. Grant Gardner contacted his wife on July 29 to inform her that he had reached the summit of Cloud Peak, but he has not been heard from since, as per the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office. The authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in challenging conditions.
Grant’s wife, Lauren Gardner, stated that he is an experienced hiker who has been hiking for over a decade and is detail-oriented. She expressed shock and mentioned that this situation is unprecedented in all the years he has been hiking.
The 38-year-old missing hiker is a father of two children. He had planned a 3-day hike through the Misty Moon Lake area, summiting Cloud Peak, and returning to his vehicle. Phone records indicate that he reached the summit around 7 p.m. on July 29 and mentioned that the climb was more difficult than expected.
Authorities expressed concern about the late summit time and the hazards that Gardner might have faced after dark. His vehicle was found in the same parking lot where he began his trip.
The search for Grant Gardner in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area involves multiple search and rescue teams and aircraft. Difficult weather conditions have added challenges to the search efforts.
The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office has requested anyone with information about Gardner to contact them or the Wyoming Missing Person Tip line.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
