The body of missing hiker John Diepholz was found late Thursday morning in the Spider Lake area of the Wind River Mountains, according to the Sublette County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say Diepholz, a 64-year-old Minnesota man who was on a solo hike and did not return as he was scheduled to, succumbed to injuries "consistent with a fall."
A search and rescue effort was launched earlier this week when family members reached out to authorities to report him as missing.
"Tip Top Search and Rescue, and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of John for their loss. It was not the outcome any of us wanted, but we can at least bring some closure to all involved," the sheriff's office said in a release.
Because of wet weather, hiking in the Wind Rivers has been more dangerous than usual, according to noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich.
“This summer, we’ve had fairly frequent and severe wind and thunderstorms,” Ulrich told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s always a risk, (but it’s) a greater risk this summer than in years past due to the severity, intensity and frequency of the storm fronts moving through."
“Tip Top search and rescue are world class," he added. "They have brought closure to a devastated family. My thoughts are with his family and the team at Tip Top that work tirelessly for all of us."
