The aerial search mission for Canadian mountain runner Kalie McCrystal has been stopped following multiple helicopter sweeps over the Italian side of the Matterhorn without success in locating the 38-year-old athlete and lawyer from Squamish, B.C.
After an entire day of aerial search operations on Thursday yielded no results, the dedicated helicopter search was called off.
McCrystal was last spotted on Tuesday above the Jean-Antoine Carrel hut, at an altitude of around 3,830 meters, heading towards the summit.
Initially, rescuers utilized a large air ambulance helicopter before transitioning to a smaller aircraft capable of maneuvering closer to the mountain’s steep rock faces and narrow gullies.
“We switched to a smaller helicopter that has the ability to get nearer to the cliffs and peer into the couloirs,” mentioned Valerio Segor from the Valle d’Aosta mountain rescue service to CBC. “Unfortunately, no signs of her were detected.”
The latest confirmed sighting occurred when a mountain guide crossed paths with McCrystal above the Carrel hut.
“The guide saw her continuing her ascent rather rapidly, and [McCrystal] mentioned to the guide that she was training as she aimed to attempt a record,” Segor explained. “Since then, she hasn’t been sighted by anyone.”
The Matterhorn, one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps, straddles the borders of Italy and Switzerland, standing at a height of 4,478 meters.
Search Efforts by Helicopter
McCrystal had been residing in the Cervinia region of northwestern Italy, preparing for a challenge to climb and descend the Matterhorn via the Lion Ridge within a time frame of fewer than five hours, the primary route from the Italian side.
Her disappearance triggered an extensive search operation on the mountain, including scouring steep gullies, cliff bands, and sections of the route on both the Swiss and Italian sides.
Segor mentioned that they also employed a helicopter-mounted RECCO detector, a radar system capable of locating compatible reflectors integrated into certain outdoor clothing and gear. A friend had informed authorities that McCrystal might have had one in her backpack.
“We attempted to detect signals with the antenna mounted on the helicopter,” he stated. “However, we did not receive any indication of a RECCO beacon on either side, Italian or Swiss.”
Efforts to establish a signal from McCrystal’s cellphone were also unsuccessful.
Prior Skyrunning Experience
McCrystal is a prominent skyrunner in Canada, participating in races over challenging mountain terrains at high altitudes.
Earlier this year, she triumphed in Argentina’s 4 Refugios Non-Stop, covering approximately 40 kilometers with an elevation gain of 3,350 meters.
She had recently tested her skills on the Matterhorn. On August 14, McCrystal completed a solo ascent and descent from Zermatt via the Swiss Hörnli Ridge in a time of six hours, 47 minutes, and 33 seconds, as recorded in the Fastest Known Time database.
Ten days later, she participated in Italy