News – Sheridan Media
On Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 during the late afternoon/ early evening hours, a professional climbing team from North Carolina summited Cloud Peak and descended on the northern route of the peak, prior to a summit attempt on Woolsey Peak the next day.
The climbers made a high altitude camp for the evening.
While making camp the climbers noticed a slight reflection a few hundred feet above them underneath a ledge.
The climbers were confident it was a backpack.
Due to the rapidly approaching darkness, further investigation was too dangerous.
The climbing team notified the Sheriff’s Office via satellite of their finding and graciously agreed to abort their plans and wait for SAR teams to arrive at daylight.
During the night teams prepared for another mission.
Spot weather forecasts revealed a very narrow window before an impending weather system moved in.
Teams launched on 8/27/2025 from the Greybull Airport and West Ten Sleep Trailhead.
First Flight of Wyoming approved a final flight, and transported the teams to the North Carolina climber’s high altitude camp.
The SAR Team and climbers gained access to the area.
Grant Gardner’s remains were located near the backpack.
Gardner was wearing clothing that very closely matched the terrain he was climbing in.
A difficult/dangerous recovery was conducted and Grant Gardner is being brought home to his family.
Gardner’s body was located in 1 of the 2 primary search areas, very closely matching one of the highest probability scenarios.
The case has been transferred to the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office to determine time, manner and cause of death.
This transition is routine per State Statute guidelines.
The Big Horn County, Wyoming Sheriff says he believes Gardner succumbed to a tragic accident as many have surmised.
Special thanks to a spectacular professional group of technical climbers who were in exactly the right spot, at the right moment, with the right light, to notice a small piece of fabric on a pack that was otherwise undetectable, for selflessly aborting their plans and working with SAR Teams to find Gardner, providing closure to his family.
Information Courtesy: Big Horn County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office
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Last modified: August 29, 2025