A 28-year-old Australian hiker has died after an apparent fall while attempting the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in Wyoming’s rugged Teton Range. William “Will” Standish was reported overdue on July 27 after his family in Australia had not heard from him for four days. After reviewing his final Garmin satellite tracking data, park officials transferred the case to Teton County Search & Rescue (TCSAR), which located Standish’s body on July 29 below a steep ridgeline in one of the most remote sections of the Continental Divide Trail.
The experienced Australian thru-hiker died after an apparent fall from a steep, high-altitude ridgeline separating Grand Teton National Park and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. Standish had been attempting a southbound (SOBO) thru-hike of the approximately 3,100-mile (5,000-kilometer) Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, beginning at the Canadian border and traveling toward Mexico. The route crosses Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico, and is widely regarded as one of North America’s most challenging long-distance trails because of its remote wilderness, severe weather, difficult terrain, and long stretches without services.
According to park officials, Standish regularly updated his family in Australia using a Garmin satellite communicator. On July 19, he checked in from near Old Faithful and shared his planned route through the Tetons, the Gros Ventre Wilderness, the Wind River Range, and the Divide Basin. His final communication came on July 23, when his family received a Garmin check-in that contained neither coordinates nor a message, along with a video sent through Facebook Messenger that they believed had been recorded in the Tetons. When no further communication followed, they contacted park officials on July 27.
Investigators determined that Standish’s final Garmin tracking points placed him near an area known as the Wigwams in Teton County. Responsibility for the search was then transferred to Teton County Search & Rescue, which has jurisdiction for search-and-rescue operations outside the national parks. On the morning of July 29, rescuers deployed a helicopter short-haul team to Standish’s last known location. While searching from the air, crews first spotted a bright orange backpack before locating Standish below the ridgeline south of North Wigwam Peak. His body was recovered by helicopter and transported to Jackson before being transferred to the Teton County Coroner’s Office.
Standish was well known within the Continental Divide Trail community. According to the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, he first attempted the CDT northbound in 2024 under the trail name “Rova,” ending his journey in Colorado after suffering a foot injury. He returned this year stronger than ever to complete the trail southbound under the trail name “Convict.” The Coalition described him as “one of those people that lifted up everyone around him.”
As news of his disappearance spread, hikers across the Continental Divide Trail quickly shared information and joined efforts to help locate him, offering support to his family in Australia during the search. In a tribute shared by the Coalition, Standish’s family wrote: “Our beautiful Will – his heart and soul are forever in the mountains. Rest in eternal sunshine. Dance with the stars.” Friends and fellow hikers have remembered Standish as a joyful adventurer whose passion for exploring the outdoors took him to mountains around the world, including Nepal, Sweden, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the United States.
A fundraiser organized by members of Standish’s trail family has been launched to help return his body to Australia. The campaign describes him as “a funny, adventurous spirit that brought laughter to every situation,” adding that his sudden passing has left his family facing the emotional and financial burden of repatriating him from Wyoming before memorial services can be held at home. The fundraiser has raised nearly $30,000 so far.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Standish’s family.
Teton County Search & Rescue expressed its condolences to Standish’s family and thanked Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and its partner agencies for assisting with the investigation and recovery operation.
