Will Stanhope, a Canadian rock climber and professional rock guide, died on April 23, 2026, after a climbing accident in which his protection failed and he took a ground fall.
He was 39. Before his death, Stanhope was described as one of North America’s leading trad climbers and one of Canada’s boldest climbers.
He worked as an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides certified guide. In 2015, he made the first free ascent of The Tom Egan Memorial Route, a 5.14 trad route on Snowpatch Spire in the Bugaboos. Stanhope also published stories about his adventures in the Canadian Alpine Journal and American Alpine Journal and appeared in multiple films.
Will Stanhope, 39, Canadian rock climber, fall.