Politixia
An Australian hiker has been found dead after going missing in a remote mountainous area of the USA.
Will Standish, 28, who was walking the long-distance route known as the Continential Divide Trail, is believed to have fallen from the crest of a mountain.
Will Standish, 28, who walking a long-distance route from Canada is believed to have fallen from a steep ridgeline. Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Authorities from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks launched a search after his family lost touch and he failed to arrive as planned.
Teton County Search and Rescue said his body was found on Wigwams on the west slope of the Tetons in Teton County, Wyoming.
“Evidence suggests that he may have fallen from a steep, high-altitude ridgeline that separates Grand Teton National Park and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness,” it said in a Facebook post.
Will Standish, 28, was an experienced hiker. Continental Divide Trail Coalition
He had been in touch with his family in Australia but was last heard from on July 23, it said.
They contacted authorities on July 27 when no more messages arrived.
Teton County Search and Rescue found his body via a helicopter on Wednesday.
“On July 19, the hiker gave an update from a location near Old Faithful, and described his planned route in the Tetons, Gros Ventre Wilderness, the Wind River Range, and Divide Basin,′ it said,
“On July 23, the family received a Garmin check-in without coordinates or a message, as well as a video via Facebook Messenger that they believe placed him in the Tetons.
“When no further communication followed, they contacted park officials on July 27.
“Park officials determined that the Garmin tracking points on July 23 placed the hiker near the Wigwams inside Teton County.
A fundraiser has been launched to bring the body of Will Standish, 28, home. GoFundMe
“On the morning of July 29, TCSAR assembled a helicopter short-haul team and flew to the hiker’s last presumed point.
“From the air, the team spotted a bright orange backpack and soon found the subject below the ridge south of North Wigwam Peak. His body was recovered.”
The Continential Divide Trail Coalition posted on Facebook Standish had started a long distance southbound hike of the route in June but was reported on July 26 he was “overdue”.
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST), runs almost 5000km from the southern Mexico border to the northern Canadian border.
“William, or Will, started a SoBo hike of the CDT in June, following a 2024 NoBo hike (trail name “Rover”) that concluded with a foot injury in Colorado,” it said.
“Though he began his 2026 hike stronger than ever, Will was reported overdue on July 26.
Teton County Search and Rescue found WIll’s body via a helicopter on Wednesday. Teton County Search and Rescue
“Concerned hikers immediately rallied to spread the word and join the search, which was a bit of comfort to his worried family in Australia.”
The post said he “was one of those people that lifted up everyone around him.”
It shared a family tribute as well as photos of him hiking around the world including in Nepal, Sweden, USA, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.
“Our beautiful Will – his heart and soul are forever in the mountains. Rest in eternal sunshine. Dance with the stars,” his family said.
A fundraiser has been set up to return his body to Australia.
“Will was a funny, adventurous spirit that brought laughter to every situation,′ it says.
“To be around him was to be infused with his unbridled joy for every aspect of life.”
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