In the summer of 2012, 44-year-old Garrett Beckwith and his 19-year-old daughter, Della, set out for what was meant to be a father–daughter trip they’d remember forever. Both were experienced hikers and climbers, united by a shared love of wild places and challenge. Their destination: Mount Hooker, a remote granite monolith deep within Wyoming’s Wind River Range.
It was supposed to be another adventure—long days, thin air, and the quiet bond that forms only miles from civilization. But Garrett and Della never came back.
Mount Hooker isn’t for the faint of heart. Rising nearly 12,500 feet, it is one of the most imposing peaks in the lower 48 states. Its north face is sheer and merciless—1,800 feet of vertical granite that has humbled even the most seasoned climbers. Reaching the base alone requires days of trekking through rugged terrain, rivers, and alpine passes where the weather can turn lethal in minutes.
Garrett, a seasoned outdoorsman, knew all of that. He’d raised Della to respect the wilderness—to move through it with discipline and awe. By all accounts, they were prepared: proper gear, supplies, and an established plan to check in after the climb. But sometime after they began their ascent, all contact stopped.