Athletics Canada says mountaineer missing while attempting Matterhorn record

Kalie McCrystal, a Canadian skyrunner and mountaineer, has gone missing while attempting to break a mountain-running record on the Matterhorn along the Switzerland-Italy border.

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Kalie is a highly respected athlete and a valued member of the worldwide skyrunning community.

Athletics Canada said McCrystal was last seen Tuesday. The organization described her as experienced in technical, high-altitude environments and noted that this was not her first ascent of the roughly 4,481-metre peak overlooking the Swiss town of Zermatt. It did not provide details about the record she was attempting.

“Kalie is a highly respected athlete and a valued member of the worldwide skyrunning community,” Athletics Canada said. “Our thoughts are with Kalie, her family and everyone close to her at this extremely difficult time. We are hoping for her safe return and are grateful to those involved in the ongoing search.”

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Our thoughts are with Kalie, her family and everyone close to her at this extremely difficult time. We are hoping for her safe return and are grateful to those involved in the ongoing search.

Riley Webb, a close friend from McCrystal’s hometown of Squamish, British Columbia, said he had known her for about five years. He described her as an accomplished mountain runner, lawyer and deeply caring friend. “She was very thoughtful and compassionate. Always there for you. Truly always there for you,” he told Global News.

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She was very thoughtful and compassionate. Always there for you. Truly always there for you.

Webb said the uncertainty surrounding the search had been difficult for those close to her. He and McCrystal began mountain and trail running around the same time, training and entering the mountains together. He said her passion for the sport stood out, as did her wish to support women in mountain running. “I think she was a very inspiring person,” he said.

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I think she was a very inspiring person.