Ongoing Hunt for Grant Gardner in Bighorn Mountains
The search for Grant Gardner, a seasoned hiker from Minnesota who went missing in the Cloud Peak region of the Bighorn Mountains, has been suspended by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office following a 20-day intensive search effort. The decision was made in consultation with Gardner's family on August 21, 2025.
The search for Gardner involved a wide array of resources, including search and rescue teams, logistical support, and citizen volunteers. Big Horn County and Wyoming Search and Rescue personnel worked tirelessly for 20 days, navigating extreme conditions such as high altitude, changing terrain, winds, and storms. The search effort also involved coordinating with local authorities, utilizing phone records to track Gardner's movements, and examining hiking logs at trailheads.
Despite the suspension of official operations, many volunteers have vowed to continue searching on their own time, focusing on recovery rather than rescue. However, due to liability issues, these volunteers cannot be paired with active Search and Rescue groups.
Grant Gardner, an experienced hiker, embarked on a three-day hike in the Misty Moon Lake area, aiming to summit Cloud Peak. He last contacted his wife on July 29, 2025, stating he had reached the summit but had found the hike more taxing than expected. Since then, there has been no further contact.
The Cloud Peak Wilderness is a deceptively expansive and remote area, located in the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming. The search for Gardner has involved the use of camera drones, helicopters, planes, dogs, and horse teams. The command operations for the search have been moved to the Greybull airport.
Thorough searches of various areas and routes have been performed, with the Wyoming National Guard, Search and Rescue teams from 6 Northern Wyoming Counties, and the US Forest Service all contributing to the effort. The search is being conducted on public land, so no specific permission is required in any area.
Anyone with information about Mr. Gardner's whereabouts, or can help with the search, is asked to contact the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office at 307-568-2324. It is important for those who are familiar with the territory and want to help to advise the Sheriff's Office of their plans before departing.
As snow starts to fall at higher elevations above 10,000 feet in the area, the search for Grant Gardner continues, with the hope that further information or leads will come to light.
Sports enthusiasts from the community have expressed their support for the effort to find Grant Gardner by organizing fundraisers and crowd-sourced search parties, aiming to provide additional resources for the ongoing search efforts on public land.
Despite the suspension of official operations, many hiking groups and organizations have shown interest in supporting the unofficial search efforts, offering expertise in navigation, mountaineering, and wilderness survival.
