In the summer of 2012, Garrett Beckwith, a 44-year-old father with a lifelong passion for the outdoors, and his 19-year-old daughter, Della, set off on a journey they had long anticipated. Both were experienced hikers and climbers, well-versed in the challenges and rewards that come with exploring nature’s most remote corners. Their destination was Mount Hooker, a remote granite peak situated deep within Wyoming’s Wind River Range. It was meant to be a bonding adventure, an opportunity to test their skills, challenge their endurance, and share in the quiet majesty of the wilderness far from urban life. Yet, what should have been a memorable father-daughter experience turned into one of the region’s most enduring mysteries. Garrett and Della never returned.
Mount Hooker, standing at nearly 12,500 feet, is a mountain of legend among climbers in the lower 48 states. Its steep north face rises almost vertically for 1,800 feet, presenting a formidable obstacle even to highly skilled mountaineers. To reach its base, climbers must endure days of strenuous trekking, navigate challenging alpine passes, and cross rivers and rugged terrain that can quickly become treacherous. The mountain’s isolation means that even minor missteps can have serious consequences. For Garrett and Della, the journey was not just a climb but a test of preparation, discipline, and mutual trust.
Garrett, a veteran outdoorsman, had instilled in Della a deep respect for nature. He taught her how to read the weather, move safely across rocky landscapes, and respond to the unexpected challenges that wilderness adventures often present. According to friends and family, they were well-prepared: equipped with reliable climbing gear, adequate supplies, and a communication plan that would allow them to check in at designated intervals. Despite their preparation, once they began their ascent, all contact ceased.
When Garrett and Della failed to return as scheduled, alarm bells rang immediately. Friends and family reported them missing, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation. Helicopters scoured the sky, K-9 units combed the terrain, and experienced climbers, along with forest rangers, searched the mountain’s ridges, crevices, and hidden valleys. Days stretched into weeks with no sign of the Beckwiths. Not a rope, not a piece of gear, not a trace of their passage—nothing could explain their disappearance.
Speculation was inevitable. Rescue teams considered numerous scenarios. Perhaps a rockslide had swept them from the mountain, or a sudden storm had forced them off course. The Wind River Range is notorious for unpredictable weather, and high-altitude storms can appear without warning, disorienting even the most seasoned climbers. Yet, in the absence of physical evidence, each theory remained unconfirmed.
For Garrett’s wife, Emily, and the rest of the family, the uncertainty was agonizing. “Not knowing is its own kind of hell,” Emily once reflected. Each phone call carried the bittersweet hope that news of their return might be imminent. But with each passing day, hope and despair intertwined, leaving a persistent, unending grief. Friends remembered Garrett as patient, methodical, and protective of his daughter. “He was not reckless,” one climbing companion noted. “He respected the mountains. If something went wrong, it wasn’t because of carelessness—it was because the mountain simply had its own rules.”
Della, who was pursuing environmental science at Colorado State University at the time, mirrored her father’s dedication and passion for the outdoors. To her, Mount Hooker was not just a physical challenge but a symbolic milestone. It represented a chance to prove her endurance, skill, and resilience—the very qualities her father had nurtured in her. She moved through the wilds with confidence, learning from Garrett’s guidance while forging her own path in the high-altitude wilderness.
Over the years, the Beckwiths’ disappearance became part of climbing lore in Wyoming. Campfire stories, online discussions, and local mountaineering forums speculated about their fate. Some believed the pair had reached the summit only to be overtaken by a sudden storm during their descent. Others imagined that they might have sought refuge in a remote cave or crevice, never to find their way back. A few entertained the idea that they had chosen to disappear from society entirely. Those who knew Garrett and Della best, however, dismissed these notions. “Garrett wouldn’t leave his family,” a climbing partner insisted. “Adventure was important, yes, but his love for his wife and daughter always came first. He would never walk away.”
For eleven long years, the mountain kept its secret. Then, in late 2023, climbers exploring a seldom-used route on Mount Hooker’s eastern face made an unexpected discovery. Remnants of a campsite were found: weathered climbing gear, fragments of rope, and a rusted cooking pot partially buried beneath a rock ledge. The faint outline of a makeshift bivouac indicated that someone had spent at least one emergency night there.
Authorities and rangers were promptly notified. An investigative team conducted a careful forensic examination, confirming that the items belonged to Garrett and Della Beckwith. The evidence suggested that they had made substantial progress on their climb but encountered a fatal event, likely a sudden storm or accident during their descent. Though the findings could not fully reconstruct the final moments, they provided a form of closure that the family had long yearned for.
Emily Beckwith released a statement acknowledging the bittersweet resolution: “For eleven years, we lived between hope and heartbreak. Now, we finally have peace. Garrett and Della are together, forever part of the wilderness they loved.” A small memorial plaque now stands near the base of Mount Hooker, engraved with the words: “They went to climb and never came down, but they reached the sky all the same.”
Within the climbing community, the Beckwiths’ story serves as a lasting reminder of both the allure and the peril of high-altitude adventure. Climbers visiting the memorial leave small tokens: flowers, carabiners, or handwritten notes honoring the courage, passion, and bond shared by a father and daughter who challenged the limits of nature. Mount Hooker itself remains unchanged—majestic, unforgiving, and silent. Its towering granite face now also holds the memory of Garrett and Della, reminding those who follow in their footsteps of the profound connection humans can form with the wilderness.
The narrative of the Beckwiths emphasizes the sacred, sometimes haunting nature of remote landscapes. The mountains do not yield easily; they offer wonder and beauty, yet they exact a cost. Garrett and Della’s story exemplifies the bravery, preparation, and respect required to engage with such environments. Their disappearance—and the eventual discovery—highlights the quiet truths of wilderness exploration: triumph and tragedy often exist side by side, and every climb carries both hope and risk.
In the end, Garrett and Della Beckwith are remembered not for the tragedy that befell them but for the spirit of adventure they embodied. They embraced the wild with courage and reverence, leaving behind a story that continues to inspire climbers and nature enthusiasts alike. Their journey—silent now, yet eternal—serves as a testament to the deep bonds of family, the pursuit of challenge, and the enduring allure of places that demand courage, respect, and passion to explore.
Mount Hooker remains as it has always been: awe-inspiring and formidable, a place where only the brave tread, and a natural monument to those who loved it enough to risk everything. The Beckwiths’ legacy endures in the whisper of the wind across its granite walls, in the stories shared around campfires, and in the hearts of all who seek to test themselves against the majesty of the mountains.
