In the summer of 2012, Garrett Beckwith, an experienced outdoorsman, and his adventurous 19-year-old daughter Della set out on a trip that was meant to be memorable for all the right reasons. Their destination was Mount Hooker, one of Wyoming’s most challenging and majestic peaks, known both for its remote location and its sheer granite walls that have long drawn climbers from across the world. For Garrett and Della, this was not just another climb; it was an opportunity to deepen their already close relationship, to push themselves against nature, and to add one more unforgettable chapter to the many outdoor journeys they had shared as father and daughter. They packed their gear with excitement, full of anticipation at the challenge that lay ahead, never imagining that the adventure would take such a tragic and mysterious turn.
From the very beginning, their plan was filled with promise. The Beckwiths had always shared a love of the wilderness, and for Garrett, taking his daughter into the high mountains was a way of passing on both skill and spirit—an inheritance of resilience and courage. Della, only nineteen, was eager to prove herself, to climb side by side with her father, and to experience firsthand the thrill of conquering one of Wyoming’s most iconic landscapes. The trail toward Mount Hooker promised sweeping vistas, crisp alpine air, and the exhilaration that only comes from leaving civilization behind. As they hiked deeper into the Wind River Range, every step carried with it not only the weight of their packs but also their dreams of triumph at the summit.
Yet, what began in joy and expectation quickly transformed into one of the state’s most enduring and haunting mysteries. Days passed, and the pair failed to return as planned. At first, friends and family assumed they might have been delayed by weather or had chosen to extend their expedition. But soon, concern gave way to alarm, and a search was launched. Teams scoured the rugged wilderness—mountain passes, lakes, and cliffs—hoping to find a trace of the father and daughter who had ventured so bravely into the backcountry. Despite exhaustive efforts, no definitive evidence was ever discovered, and the mountains kept their secret.
For the Beckwith family and the community that rallied behind them, the disappearance was devastating. The thought of a father and daughter vanishing together in a place they loved so deeply was almost impossible to accept. Every photograph of Garrett and Della, smiling with gear slung over their shoulders, now carried a heavier meaning. Their story became a symbol of both the beauty and the danger of the wilderness—a reminder that nature, though awe-inspiring, is unpredictable and sometimes merciless.
Over time, the mystery of Garrett and Della’s fate has remained unresolved. Mount Hooker continues to rise silently over the Wyoming landscape, unchanged, a towering witness to what may have happened. For those who knew them, the mountain is no longer just a place of adventure but a solemn marker of loss. Their disappearance is remembered as one of Wyoming’s most puzzling unsolved cases, where hope, love, and ambition met the unyielding reality of nature, leaving behind questions that may never be answered.
What was meant to be a triumphant climb—an adventure of connection and achievement between a father and daughter—became instead an enduring story of absence, sorrow, and mystery. Even today, their journey reminds others who follow in their footsteps that the mountains can inspire dreams, but they can also guard their secrets forever.