A companion of a Canadian athlete who disappeared on the Matterhorn mountain mentions that the mountain running community in Squamish, British Columbia, is eagerly anticipating her safe return. Kalie McCrystal, a prominent mountain athlete from Squamish, was last sighted on September 1 above the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut on the mountain, situated at an elevation of approximately 3,830 meters.
Search and rescue teams were deployed to locate her; however, they recently announced the suspension of helicopter operations after a full day of aerial searches on Thursday yielded no leads.
Duncan O’Regan, a friend of McCrystal, expressed, “We just want her to come home safe. And we miss her here. So we’re just crossing our fingers.” He described her as a respected figure within the local mountain running community.
McCrystal, a 38-year-old lawyer, was preparing to ascend and descend the Matterhorn in under five hours via the Lion Ridge, the primary route from the Italian side, aiming to secure the fastest known time. O’Regan, also a mountain runner, mentioned, “I know that this objective was well within her capabilities. She’s done much more challenging tasks, and this is not beyond her abilities. She’s at ease in this type of terrain.”
The Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable peaks in the Alps, straddling Italy and Switzerland, with a height of 4,478 meters. McCrystal’s aspiration for the Matterhorn has been a focus of her training and practice.
McCrystal is renowned as an adept skyrunner, blending trail running and mountaineering disciplines. Jacob Cook, a professional climber from Squamish, highlighted her achievements within the local scene, emphasizing her prowess in blending running and scrambling in rocky mountaineering terrain.
In July, McCrystal set the fastest known female time for Squamish’s Tantalus Traverse at nine hours and 40 minutes, smashing the previous record by three hours. Cook commended her remarkable athleticism demonstrated in completing the challenging Tantalus Traverse at a swift pace.
The university where McCrystal is a faculty member, Capilano University, conveyed its support, with the university president expressing sympathy for her family, friends, and colleagues during the search efforts. Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the situation of the missing Canadian and confirmed coordination with local authorities.
O’Regan reiterated the sentiments of the community, stating, “Everyone here in Squamish is just really missing Kalie and hoping that she comes back soon.”
