Search for missing hiker enters second week

The search for Grant Gardner in the Cloud Peak Wilderness area continues this week. 

Big Horn County Search and Rescue began the search for Gardner, a Minnesota man who went missing on his route from Cloud Peak through the Mistymoon Lake area, on Friday, Aug. 1. Contact has not been made with Gardner since a text message to his wife around 7 p.m. on July 29. 

On Monday, Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn said in a press release that operations to locate the hiker have not ceased. However, for the convenience of SAR teams, the command trailer at West Ten Sleep trailhead will remain unmanned with command operations moved to the South Big Horn County Airport in Greybull.

Thus far, resources expended have included drones, helicopters, planes with FLIR capabilities, military grade Bluetooth/cell phone detection equipment, multiple dog tracking teams, horse and foot teams, private pilots, Wyoming National Guard, First Flight of Wyoming, Big Horn County Emergency Management, Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Big Horn National Forest personnel, as well as search and rescue teams from seven different counties. 

In addition, Wyoming DCI cell phone forensics teams have been working with analysts from Gardner’s cell phone provider and FBI forensics teams to assist in his location. 

“The Cloud Peak Wilderness is deceptively expansive and remote, and snow is starting to fall at higher elevations above 10,000 feet. Very thorough searches of these areas have been performed. Mr. Gardner could plausibly be in several areas and routes, all of which have been extensively searched,” Blackburn said in his release. 

Blackburn stated that citizens have offered their services as volunteers however, due to liability, SAR operations are not permitted to accept unassociated personnel on their searches. The area remains open to public recreation, and tips from hikers are being routed directly to Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office at 307-568-2324. Skilled and experienced outdoor recreationalists are welcomed to assist on their own.

“We respectfully request searchers advise the Sheriff’s Office of their plans before departing and notify the Sheriff’s Office when they return. GPS tracking of searches would be greatly appreciated. It should be noted the search is on public land, no special permission is required,” Blackburn said. “Please do not add to the current challenge; if you are not specifically familiar with this remote wilderness, stay home.

“Our team is tired but pushing forward.”