Gardner was last heard from on July 29, 2025, when he contacted his wife from the summit of Cloud Peak, indicating that he had completed the climb but was fatigued. His vehicle was later found at the West Ten Sleep trailhead, confirming he had entered the wilderness as planned.Search and rescue operations began on August 1, involving multiple agencies from across Wyoming, including the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan County, Johnson County, Washakie County, Park County, Teton County, the Wyoming Army National Guard, and First Flight of Wyoming. Efforts included helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radar) technology, and canine tracking teams.The rugged terrain, high altitude, and unpredictable weather—including wind and lightning storms—made the search extremely challenging. At least two rescuers required medical attention during the operation.
Sheriff Ken Blackburn expressed gratitude for the extraordinary efforts of the search teams, local and private pilots, canine handlers, and all agencies involved.
Gardner’s family has been notified, and the community is mourning the loss of the experienced hiker whose disappearance drew a large-scale, coordinated search effort.
Authorities continue to urge anyone who may have had contact with Gardner before his hike to reach out to the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office at 307-568-2324 or through the Wyoming DCI Missing Person Tip line.
This tragic discovery marks the end of an intensive search in the unforgiving Cloud Peak Wilderness, highlighting both the dangers of solo high-altitude hiking and the dedication of Wyoming’s search and rescue personnel.
