Search efforts for Grant Gardner, a Minnesota man missing since late July, have been suspended after 20 days. Authorities stated that the chances of his survival have diminished significantly. Gardner had embarked on a three-day hiking trip in the Misty Moon Lake area, aiming to summit Cloud Peak in Wyoming.

He was last in contact with his wife on July 29, informing her that he had reached the summit. Since that communication, there has been no further contact. The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office announced the suspension of search and rescue operations on Wednesday, following consultations with Gardner's family.

Sheriff Ken Blackburn expressed the difficulty of the decision, stating, "In consultation with family members, I have made the heartbreaking and difficult decision to suspend active search and rescue operations for Mr. Gardner. Our teams have exhausted all resources and personnel over the last 20 days."

Authorities discovered Gardner's vehicle at the West Ten Sleep trailhead, where he began his hike. A hiking log confirmed that he entered the area as planned. Phone records indicated that he reached the summit of Cloud Peak, which stands at approximately 13,000 feet, around 7 p.m. This timing raised concerns due to the challenging terrain he would have to navigate after dark.

Blackburn noted, "Our teams will rest, then begin search and recovery efforts as time and evidence allow. Many citizen volunteers and outdoors people are continuing to search for clues in an effort to bring peace to this family."

He added that the family is grateful for the support they have received during this difficult time. Search teams utilized helicopters, planes, foot teams, and canines in their efforts, but faced extremely challenging conditions. At least two rescuers required medical treatment during the search.

The Bighorn National Forest spans over 1 million acres, with 191,000 acres designated as the Cloud Peak Wilderness area, where Gardner is believed to have been hiking. Blackburn remarked, "Many team members feel like they have lost a battle by not finding Grant at this time, however, it was not for a lack of effort on anyone’s part. We hope clues will surface that will help bring a final closure to this tragedy in due time."