The search conducted by helicopter for Canadian mountain runner Kalie McCrystal on the Italian side of the Matterhorn has been called off following multiple aerial sweeps that failed to locate the 38-year-old athlete and lawyer from Squamish, B.C.
After a full day of aerial searches on Thursday yielded no results, the dedicated helicopter operation was halted. McCrystal was last spotted on Tuesday near the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut at approximately 3,830 meters, heading towards the summit.
Initially, a large air ambulance helicopter was deployed, later replaced by a smaller aircraft that could maneuver closer to the mountain’s rugged terrain. Despite these efforts, no signs of McCrystal were found.
The last confirmed sighting was when a mountain guide saw McCrystal ascending rapidly above the Carrel hut, mentioning her training for a record attempt. However, no further sightings have been reported since then.
The Matterhorn, one of the prominent peaks in the Alps standing at 4,478 meters, straddles the borders of Italy and Switzerland.
McCrystal had been in the Cervinia area of northwestern Italy preparing to complete a climb and descent of the Matterhorn in less than five hours via the Lion Ridge route. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search of the mountain, including steep gullies and cliff areas on both sides of the border.
Despite efforts using a helicopter-mounted RECCO detector and attempts to locate a signal from her cellphone, no significant leads were uncovered in the search for McCrystal.
Known for her skyrunning expertise, McCrystal is a top Canadian skyrunner who competes in challenging mountain terrains at high altitudes. Earlier this year, she triumphed in Argentina’s 4 Refugios Non-Stop race, covering around 40 kilometers with significant elevation gain.
The search for McCrystal may have ceased, but mountain guides familiar with the area continue to keep an eye out for any potential signs. Authorities are hopeful that additional information from the police could provide new leads, reigniting a more focused search effort. Global Affairs Canada has been contacted for further updates.