Missing Climber from Lakeville Found After Weeks of Searching

We have been hearing about a missing climber from Lakeville, Minnesota since the end of July.  This isn't the outcome that the family was hoping for, but at least they now have closure.

REMAINS FOUND

38 year old Grant Gardner's body has now been found.  He had been on a solo climb at the Cloud Peak Wilderness in Wyoming.  He had contacted his wife on July 29th saying that he was there, and that the climb had been much more difficult than he had anticipated.  That was the last anyone heard from Gardner.

From KARE 11

The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office announced Aug. 20 that they had suspended the search operation for Gardner, saying “we have to face the reality that the most optimistic survival odds have run out.”"We believe Gardner succumbed to a tragic accident as we all have surmised," Sheriff Blackburn said in a written statement.

CLOTHING

According to the report, Gardner was wearing clothes that kind of blended into the terrain, that's why it made it difficult to find him even by air.  And who knows what might have happened if he had been wearing something brighter that stood out more.  The questions will continue with no real answers, unfortunately.

CLOSURE

Whenever something like this happens there are always some mixed feelings.  The feeling of glad you now have closure, but also the horrible feeling of no more hope.  Until that time comes, you always hold out hope until youi no longer can.  So, definitely some mixed feelings that will come along with a situation like this.

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