A 28-year-old Australian hiker attempting a 3,100-mile journey along the Continental Divide Trail was found dead last Wednesday in Wyoming’s remote backcountry. Authorities said evidence suggested he may have fallen from a steep, high-altitude ridgeline while traveling between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
William Standish was located after his family reported him missing in Australia following four days without contact. A tracking device provided Teton County Search and Rescue with his last known coordinates, and rescuers later spotted a bright orange backpack from a helicopter, according to The New York Times.
Search Crews Followed A Device Ping Into Rugged Terrain
Standish’s body was found along a remote trail system after search crews flew to the location indicated by his device. Authorities contacted officials at Yellowstone and Grand Teton as they worked to determine where he had traveled and what happened on the ridgeline.
The recovery was carried out by Teton County Search and Rescue, a volunteer team that operates under the sheriff’s office and responds to overdue hikers, high-angle rescues and other wilderness emergencies, according to the Teton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Continental Divide Trail Is No Ordinary Long-Distance Hike
Standish had been attempting the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, which runs about 3,100 miles between Canada and Mexico through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. The National Park Service describes it as one of the country’s national scenic trails, linking some of the most remote terrain in the Rocky Mountain West.
The route is a patchwork of trails rather than one uninterrupted footpath, and conditions can shift quickly across high passes, forest roads and remote wilderness. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition advises hikers to plan for navigation, snow, water, resupply and changing route conditions before setting out.
Matt Carr, who was involved in the search, described Standish to the Times as a very experienced hiker who maintained a good pace and carried the necessary supplies. The fall was estimated at roughly 250 to 300 feet, while the Teton County coroner’s office said the official cause of death remained pending, according to the report.
The trail coalition also recommends leaving a detailed itinerary with someone at home and using a satellite messenger or emergency beacon in areas without reliable cell service. Those tools can help authorities locate a hiker, but they cannot erase the risks of steep terrain, high elevation and rapidly changing mountain weather.
