A number of regional agencies, including Park County Search and Rescue volunteers, have been searching since last weekend for a Minnesota hiker who summited 13,171 foot Cloud Peak but dropped out of contact on his descent.

On Aug. 1, 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, according to a release.

Grant Gardner, of Minnesota, 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 made contact with his wife on the evening of July 29, letting her know he’d made it to the summit. Since that time there has not been any contact with Gardner.

Gardner’s vehicle was located by searchers in the parking lot of the West Ten Sleep trailhead where he began his journey. 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 7 p.m. on July 29, and was preparing to head to a lower elevation for the night.

The late hour of this summit was concerning to search managers, according to the release.

A text sent to his wife at the summit indicated the climb was more taxing than he expected and he was tired.

On the morning of Aug. 2, search and rescue teams from 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, continued search efforts from the previous day. Efforts to locate Gardner have continued throughout the weekend in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area by these agencies. It should be noted conditions are extreme and very challenging. At least two rescuers have suffered medical conditions, and have had to receive medical care.

Additional assets began arriving on scene early in the week for the search including canine tracking dogs from various organizations around the state of Wyoming. Teton County Search and Rescue is on scene with their helicopter and special electronic device tracking equipment is enroute to the scene.

FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radar) tracking equipment has been deployed in the search for Gardner.

According to the sheriff’s office, the search is rapidly evolving and ongoing in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area. 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.

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who may have had contact with Gardner, report to the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office at 307-568-2324 or the Wyoming Missing Person Tip line on the Wyoming DCI website. Gardner has been entered as a missing person per state statute.

The sheriff’s office thanked the Johnson County Sheriff and SAR, Washakie County Sheriff and SAR, Sheridan County Sheriff and SAR, Teton County Sheriff and SAR, Park County, Wyoming, Sheriff and SAR, Wyoming Army National Guard, and First Flight of Wyoming. Special thanks to various private pilots including Jim Purdy, Jamie Foy, and others who wish to remain anonymous, who donated their time and aircraft; canine handlers John Labrec, Emily Wade, and Red and Michelle Filer, and a special thank you to First Flight.

The search for Gardner is continuing with multiple search agencies.  Helicopters, planes, foot teams, and search dogs, are all being utilized in an attempt to locate Gardner. Anyone in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area is encouraged to report anything they might see to the sheriff’s office. People are asked to be safe and considerate of the personnel in that area.

“At this time our hearts go out to the family,” Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn wrote. “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.”