Canadian trail runner missing in Italian Alps
Seasoned athlete Kalie McCrystal has been missing for a week while training on the Matterhorn.
Quick Look
- Canadian trail runner Kalie McCrystal, 38, has been missing in the Italian Alps since September 1.
- The athlete, who was trying to break a Matterhorn ascent record, was last seen near the Jean-Antoine-Carrel refuge.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kalie McCrystal is an experienced high altitude athlete, having won the “4 Refugios Non Stop” race in Argentina last February.
A Canadian trail runner, Kalie McCrystal, who was training in northern Italy, has been missing for a week in the Alps and the search slowed down on Tuesday, two sources told AFP.
According to the Alpine rescue spokesperson, the last two helicopter flights took place on Sunday and Monday above the Matterhorn, which peaks at 4,478 meters.
According to a member of the Guardia di Finanza, the Italian financial police responsible for mountain research in the Valle d'Aosta region, the mobilized teams are trying to find traces of connected devices that the athlete could have with her.
She was preparing for the Matterhorn
According to media reports, Kalie McCrystal, 38, was preparing to break the record for ascending and descending the Matterhorn in less than five hours.
A local website indicates that the last sign of life of the Canadian athlete would be a selfie taken on September 1 above the Jean-Antoine-Carrel refuge, at more than 3,800 meters above sea level.
She also met two Polish climbers on the same day at around 4,250 meters above sea level. Since then, all trace of her has disappeared.
“Kalie is an experienced skyrunner and mountaineer, who has many years of experience in technical mountain environments and at high altitudes,” the Canadian Athletics Federation wrote on X.
This lawyer won the “4 Refugios Non Stop” race in Argentina last February.
Open Questions
- Where are the athlete's connected devices located?
- What are the current weather conditions on the Matterhorn?
