{"id":63787,"date":"2026-08-03T02:56:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T02:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/63787\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T02:56:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T02:56:12","slug":"aussie-found-dead-on-a-us-hiking-trail-identified-as-young-melbourne-man-will-standish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/63787\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie found dead on a US hiking trail identified as young Melbourne man Will Standish"},"content":{"rendered":"

A young man who died trying to complete a colossal hike across North America has been identified as a beloved outdoorsman from Melbourne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Will Standish, 28, was attempting to complete the more then 4800km-long Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico when he was declared missing on July 26.<\/p>\n

Standish was late to his next check in point and a search party was dispatched. His body was found days later in the Wigwams, a region of a mountain range in Wyoming named the Tetons.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cEvidence suggests that he may have fallen from a steep, high-altitude ridgeline that separates Grand Teton National Park and the Jedediah Smith Wilderness,\u201d Teton County Search and Rescue said.<\/p>\n

It was Standish\u2019s second attempt at the gruelling trail, after a foot injury forced him to abandon his first try in 2024. <\/p>\n

The feat would have added to his impressive list of treks around the world, including in Nepal, Sweden, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the US.<\/p>\n

\"AA young man who died on a gruelling hike in Wyoming, US, has been identified as 28-year-old Melbourne man Will Standish. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n

But now his family face the heartbreaking task of organising his remains to be transported back to Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur beautiful Will \u2014 his heart and soul are forever in the mountains,\u201d his family said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRest in eternal sunshine. Dance with the stars.\u201d<\/p>\n

A community of Standish\u2019s \u201ctrail friends\u201d have since launched a GoFundMe<\/a> to help the family pay for the repatriation of his body.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill was a funny, adventurous spirit that brought laughter to every situation,\u201d the fundraiser reads.<\/p>\n

\"StandishStandish was attempting to complete the more than 4800km-long Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico when he\u2019s believed to have fallen. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be around him was to be infused with his unbridled joy for every aspect of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis sudden passing has left his family to navigate a painful loss that no family is ever truly prepared for.\u201d<\/p>\n

A group of hikers who document the wild hike, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, said the the community has \u201clost a bit of light this week\u201d and noted he had started his second attempt \u201cstronger than ever\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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