Hiker, 38, Missing for 7 Days in Wyoming Wilderness amid ‘High Winds, Thunder and Lightning Storms’

NEED TO KNOW

• 38-year-old Grant Gardner from Minnesota has been missing in Wyoming since he texted his wife on July 29

• “On August 1, 2025, the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding an overdue hiker in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, and immediately began a search and rescue operation,” authorities said in a release

• Gardner told his wife that he had made it to the summit of Cloud Peak on July 29, but she has not heard from him since

Authorities in Wyoming are searching for a hiker who’s been missing in the wilderness for seven days.

On Monday, Aug. 4, the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office said in a release that Grant Gardner, 38, from Minnesota, had last made contact with his wife on July 29 after embarking on a “hike through the Misty Moon Lake area.”

“On August 1, 2025, the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding an overdue hiker in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, and immediately began a search and rescue operation,” authorities added.

The police said that Gardner “had planned on an approximate three-day hike through the Misty Moon Lake area, eventually summiting Cloud Peak, and returning to his vehicle, completing his journey.”

Gardner told his wife that he had made it to the summit of Cloud Peak on July 29, but she has not heard from him since.

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“Gardner’s vehicle was located by searchers in the parking lot of the West Ten Sleep trailhead where he began his journey,” the release continued. “The hiking log at the trailhead revealed he’d entered the wildness area as he had indicated in his hiking plan.”

“Phone records showed he summited the 13,000-foot Cloud Peak Summit at around 9:00pm on July 29, 2025, and was preparing to head to a lower elevation for the night.”

“The late hour of this summit was concerning to search managers,” the release added.

According to officials, Gardner indicated in a text message to his wife that the climb “was more taxing than he expected and he was tired.”

The multi-agency search operation has been in full effect since Aug. 1, and “at least two rescuers have suffered medical conditions, and have had to receive medical care” due to harsh conditions.

The agencies include “South Big Horn County, Sheridan County, Johnson County, Washakie County, and Park County Wyoming along with other rotor aircraft from First Flight of Wyoming, Wyoming Army National Guard, and private air craft.”

Authorities said canine tracking dogs, Teton County Search and Rescue’s helicopter and special electronic device tracking equipment joined the operation on Monday.

“The search is rapidly evolving and ongoing in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area,” they wrote. “In addition to high altitude and terrain challenges, difficult weather patterns including winds, thunder and lightning storms have made search efforts difficult at various times of the day.”

Anyone with information or sightings of Gardner’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office at 307-568-2324 or the Wyoming Missing Person Tip line on the Wyoming DCI website.

“At this time our hearts go out the family. We are asking for your thoughts and prayers on their behalf, and for the searchers who are risking life safety in this beautiful but unforgiving wilderness area. Updates will be provided as appropriate,” authorities concluded.

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