Stanhope was born in 1986[2] and learned to climb in a North Vancouver climbing gym from the age of nine.[3] Before his death he was described as "one of North America's leading trad climbers"[4] and "one of Canada's boldest climbers".[5] Stanhope engaged in free soloing, climbing grades up to 5.12 (7b/+).[6][7] In an interview, he stated that he would free solo routes early in the morning before beginning work as a mountain guide.[3] Stanhope said that he avoided free soloing routes at the limit of his ability and he would climb up only if he thought he could climb down.[3]
Besides free solo climbing, Stanhope was also known for first free ascents of difficult alpine climbs.[3] In 2015, he made the first free ascent of a 5.14 (8c/+) graded traditional climbing route called The Tom Egan Memorial Route on Snowpatch Spire in the Bugaboos, considered one of the most difficult rock climbs in Canada. Stanhope and his partner, Matt Segal, spent 100 days over four years working on the climb. Their ascent was made into a climbing film, Boys in the Bugs. Despite multiple attempts, the route was never repeated and was wiped out in a 2022 rockfall event.[8][9][10][11] In 2024, Stanhope and Tim Emmett made the first free ascent of a new 5.12+ (7b+/7c) graded route on the south ridge of Mount Combatant.[12] Stanhope climbed with Alex Honnold, who said about him, "he likes scary trad routes ... He's just a real climbing dude, the kind you want to have sitting around the campfire."[8]
He worked as an Association of Canadian Mountain Guides certified guide.[1] Stanhope published stories about his adventures in media such as the Canadian Alpine Journal and American Alpine Journal, and appeared in multiple climbing films.[8]
On 13 April 2026, he fell from a rock climbing route on Stawamus Chief near Squamish, British Columbia, and sustained a head injury. Rescuers estimated that he had fallen around 20 metres (70 ft). He was transported to hospital in stable condition but died on 23 April,[13][1] at the age of 39.[8]