Canadian trail runner missing on the Matterhorn for over eight days as…

Canadian skyrunning and mountaineering athlete Kalie McCrystal, onSeptember 1 went missing while training on the Matterhorn in the Alps.

Italian authorities subsequently deployedmountain rescue teams and dedicated helicopters, conducting extensive aerial and ground searches on the Italian side of the Matterhorn for several consecutive days.

Until September 8, after completing a final round of helicopter patrols,having found no remains or trace, authorities announced a suspension of large-scale helicopter search operations,but will continue searches using drones and by monitoring her electronic signals.

Circumstances of the disappearance and last known movements

Before McCrystal went missing, she was undertaking self-directed altitude training on the Matterhorn in the Alps, on the Italy–Switzerland border.

Her ultimate goal on the trip was to attempt the speed world record for a round trip of the Matterhorn in under 5 hours.

©ig@kalie_mcc

On the morning of September 1 she took and posted a selfie beside the mountain hut at approximately 3,800 meters (Jean-Antoine Carrel hut).

At about 3:45 p.m., a team of Polish women climbers at roughly4,250 m (on the descent section below the Lion Ridge near the summit) sighted her, at the time she was preparing to return to Cervinia on the Italian side.After that point she was completely out of contact and her personal electronic devices stopped transmitting any signals.

Official search and public reaction

Italian authorities subsequently deployed mountain rescue teams and dedicated helicopters, carrying outextensive aerial and ground patrols.

©ig@kalie_mcc

After completing the final helicopter patrol, the search units, having found no remains or traces, officially announced on September 8Major helicopter search-and-rescue operations suspended, but drones and continued monitoring of her electronic signals will still be used to attempt searches.

Athletics Canada later issued a formal statement requesting public assistance.

McCrystal's mother and sister have traveled to Italy; her law-school classmate and current British Columbia MLA Boultbee has publicly said McCrystal possesses very strong wilderness survival skills, and people remain clinging to a sliver of hope.

McCrystal's background and recent activity

The 38-year-old McCrystal lives in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada, a major outdoor-sports hub.She is not only an award-winning, world-class skyrunner but also a professional international arbitration lawyer and a lecturer at Capilano University’s law school.

©ig@kalie_mcc

This summer she did extensive mountaineering and racing. On July 21 she soloed the Tantalus Range traverse above Squamish, unsupported, in 9:40:32.

"No food or water resupplies; filtered water where possible, carried all my own food," she wrote afterward. "Didn't bring a rope; could only descend using common rope-descent methods."

©ig@kalie_mcc

In late August she also raced Trofeo Kima in Val Masino, Italy — a 52 km skyrace with 4,200 m of elevation gain — finishing 4th in the women's field in 7:59:35.

While the odds are slim, we still hope for a miracle.

[End-of-article interaction]

#Helicopter search-and-rescue suspended，Will a miracle still happen?#

Written/Edited by: Sports Notes / Cia

Image source: Internet

Visuals: Max

RUNYEAH 跑野大爆炸

Canadian trail runner missing on the Matterhorn for over eight days as search suspended.