Gardner was a second-generation Exum Guide who was born in Ridgway, Colorado, and lost his father in a climbing accident at 16, his sponsor wrote. "We knew Mike as everyone’s favorite person. He was curious and loving. He had a smile and way about him ...

According to Climbing Magazine, Gardner died in a fall on Jannu East, known by some climbers as "Jeast," on October 7. His climbing partner, Hennessey successfully completed the descent alongside a French team he encountered after the incident, according to the outlet.

Michael Gardner—a professional alpine-climber who scaled mountains in Denali, Alaska and Nepal—died from a fall while descending Nepal's Jannu East mountain on Oct. 7. He was 32.

Colorado skier Michael Gardner, 32, died Monday while climbing the Jannu East mountain in Nepal alongside longtime climbing partner Sam Hennessey.

Michael Gardner died in a fall on Jannu East (7,468m), in Nepal’s Kangchenjunga region, on October 7. The 32-year-old was attempting a new route with longtime friend and climbing partner Sam Hennessey up the imposing North Face,

Professional alpine climber Michael Gardner has died at age 32 following a fall. Gardner and his longtime climbing partner, Sam Hennessey, were trekking up the Jannu East Mountain in Nepal on Monday,