B.C. skyrunner’s family believe she fell to her death on Italy’s Matterhorn
Kalie McCrystal, 38, was last seen on Sept. 1 while training to break the record for the fastest ascent and descent of the nearly 4,500-metre mountain.
The family of Kalie McCrystal, a 38-year-old B.C. woman, has stated they believe she tragically fell to her death while skyrunning on Italy's Matterhorn. McCrystal disappeared on September 1, 2026, while training to set a record for the fastest ascent and descent of the mountain, which stands at nearly 4,500 meters. Her disappearance triggered a broad search by the Guardia di Finanza rescue team, but they were unable to locate her.
McCrystal, who hailed from Squamish, was an experienced climber and had previously attempted to scale the Matterhorn. Her family, including her mother and sister, expressed their grief, noting that she lived her life with determination and joy. They emphasized that her absence would leave a significant void in the communities she was passionate about, including Skyrunning and her home in Squamish.
Mountain trail runner Hillary Gerardi, who was scheduled to help McCrystal attempt to set a new record, learned of her disappearance and immediately reported her to authorities. Gerardi revealed that McCrystal was preparing for her attempt to become the fastest woman to run the Matterhorn, with the goal of setting a new fastest known time for ascending the peak.
Family members shared that they find solace in knowing their daughter was pursuing her passion until her last moments, and that she remains among the mountains that were her sanctuary.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
