Kalie McCrystal Missing on the Matterhorn: Search Efforts Continue Unabated; Everyone Is Praying for the Skyrunning Champion

The search continues for Kalie McCrystal, a 38-year-old Canadian skyrunner who went missing on the Matterhorn while attempting a very fast ascent and descent along the Cresta del Leone. The athlete, who had arrived in the Aosta Valley to prepare for what she had described as her most ambitious goal of the season, has been missing since September 1.

The last concrete sign of her was on Tuesday morning: a photograph taken just above the Jean-Antoine Carrel Hut, at an altitude of about 3,830 meters. In the photo, McCrystal is wearing shorts, a light jacket, and a trail running backpack. This detail, as reported by local authorities, further complicates the search efforts: rescuers have explained that her light-colored clothing blends into the surroundings, making it more difficult to spot her among the rocks and snow.

The Aosta Valley Mountain Rescue Service and the Cervinia Finance Police are searching the area nonstop. On Thursday, September 3, the entire standard Italian route to the summit was combed, without success. Reconnaissance flights were also conducted by helicopter, and a Recco antenna—a device that transmits a radar signal capable of detecting any reflectors on the missing person’s equipment—was deployed. Attempts to locate the skyrunner’s phone have also been unsuccessful.

Kalie McCrystal is one of the most accomplished skyrunners on the international circuit. In 2026, she won the 4 Refugios Non-Stop in Argentina—a 40-kilometer race with over 3,300 meters of elevation gain—and has achieved numerous top finishes in the most technically demanding races on the calendar. The Matterhorn was not new to her: on August 14, she had completed a solo ascent and descent along the Hörnli Ridge on the Swiss side, starting and finishing in Zermatt.