Canada’s track and field governing body is calling on the media’s help in an ongoing search for trail runner Kalie McCrystal, who went missing and was last seen on September 1 in Italy.
In a statement issued by Athletics Canada on Saturday, the organization said that McCrystal, 38, was on reconnaissance and training session ahead of a new mountain-running record climbing the Matterhorn in the Breuil-Cervinia commune in the Aosta Valley in Italy.
“Kalie is an experienced skyrunner and mountaineer, with many years of experience in technical and high-altitude mountain environments,” the statement read. “She has extensive knowledge and experience of alpine terrain and had previously climbed the Matterhorn. This was therefore not her first ascent of the mountain.”
According to Athletics Canada, mountain rescue services launched an extensive search mission and on Thursday a helicopter operation was suspended after a day of surveying the region found no trace of McCrystal.
“Kalie is a highly respected athlete and a valued member of the worldwide skyrunning community,” the statement continued. “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.”
McCrystal was last seen around 3:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday after making it to the summit and was headed back to Cervinia as she descended the Lion Ridge. For her upcoming attempt, she sought to climb and come down the Matterhorn in less than five hours from the Italian side. The mountain also reaches into the Valais region of Switzerland.
While climbers prefer the Swiss side of the mountain, the Italian side is more technical and not as crowded but also has an extensive fixed rope and chain system for safety and to help with progression on steep rock.
The Skyrunner World Series, which holds the leading events in the sport and is sanctioned by the International Skyrunning Federation, was also clear to point out on Saturday that McCrystal has “extensive experience navigating challenging alpine environments” and was highly knowledgeable about the terrain in the region.
In her most recent post on social media a week ago, McCrystal shared images from the popular Trofeo Kima race in Val Masino in the Lombardy region of northern Italy on August 22 where she placed fourth in the women’s division in 7:59:35.
The race, which is described as a “landmark event for skyrunners,” covers around 32 miles and is a very technical event that winds over seven mountain passes and scales more than 27,500 feet of elevation.
“The day before the race it rained what felt like 100mm and lightning caused multiple forest fires above town,” she said. “For the weather to turn bluebird in time to race was WILD. I’m so glad it did and we got to experience these mountains at their finest! I didn’t have a perfect day and I took a couple gnarly falls, but I crushed the climbs and descents and rallied really hard on the last half of the race to pull myself back into the hunt. Seeing the crowds cheering at each pass and refuge, no matter how remote, kept me going.”
McCrystal is a lawyer and faculty member at Capilano University in Vancouver, which has a campus in nearby Squamish where she lives.
In a statement to CBC News, the school expressed its support for McCrystal’s loved ones while the search continues.
“Our thoughts are with Kalie’s family, friends and colleagues and with everyone involved in the search efforts during this incredibly difficult time,” Jason Dewling, president and vice-chancellor at Capilano University said.
