() A Minnesota man was found dead in Wyoming nearly a month after going missing during a planned three-day hiking trip, according to officials.
The remains of 38-year-old Grant Gardner were discovered last week in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming by a skilled climbing team. The team noticed what looked like a backpack while descending the same mountain that Gardner had climbed a month prior, as reported by the New York Times.
Once the climbers informed the authorities about their discovery, a recovery team was dispatched and successfully retrieved Gardner’s body located near his backpack.
“While it’s not the outcome we hoped for, we are hopeful this will provide much-needed peace and closure to the family,” the sheriff’s office said.
Gardner had embarked on a hike through the Misty Moon Lake region, with plans to ultimately reach the top of Cloud Peak, as stated by the sheriff’s office. His last communication with his wife was on the evening of July 29, when he informed her that he had reached the summit.
The texts to his wife “indicated the climb was more taxing than he expected and he was tired,” the sheriff’s office said.
Officials conducted a 20-day search for Gardner, which involved multiple search agencies, helicopters, planes, dogs and more.
After nothing turned up and consulting with Gardner’s family, officials ended the search. One week later, the hiker was found.
