Canadian runner missing for days after attempting Matterhorn record

Canadian mountain runner Kalie McCrystal set herself the goal of climbing and descending the Matterhorn in five hours to establish a new record. She has been missing since Sept. 1 on the Italian side of the mountain, known in Italy as Monte Cervino.

The search operation is still under way. Her last known trace was a photograph posted Tuesday showing her above the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut. She was wearing light clothing, including shorts and a jacket, and carrying a running pack at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters.

“She was wearing white, which made her harder to spot,” rescuers said. Helicopters also took part in the search.

“

She was wearing white, which made her harder to spot.

In August, McCrystal wrote on social media that she had only a few days for conditions to improve and for her lungs to adjust to the altitude. “I have not lost hope and I am not giving up,” she wrote, adding that it would be wonderful if people kept their fingers crossed for her.

The Matterhorn is shared by Switzerland and Italy. Its summit, at 4,478 meters, ranks among the Alps’ most recognizable peaks. The Skyrunner World Series describes McCrystal as one of Canada’s leading skyrunners. She won Argentina’s 40-kilometer 4 Refugios Non-Stop race, which includes 3,350 meters of elevation gain and is considered one of South America’s most technically demanding courses.

“

I have not lost hope and I am not giving up. If you kept your fingers crossed for me, that would be wonderful.