The family of renowned Canadian skyrunner and mountaineer Kalie McCrystal, who disappeared on the Matterhorn in the Alps over two weeks ago, has expressed that she “continues to dwell in the mountains, her cherished sanctuary.”
In a statement issued by her mother and sister, it is indicated that all available information from an extensive search indicates that she likely had an accident while descending the mountain.
The statement, relayed by British Columbia provincial legislator Amelia Boultbee, a close friend of McCrystal, commends the search and rescue teams for their dedicated work and reassures that the family believes every possible effort has been made to locate her.
McCrystal was last sighted on September 1 as she endeavored to set a new mountain-running record in the Alps on the border of Switzerland and Italy, scaling the 4,481-meter-high Matterhorn.
The family’s message expresses gratitude for the global support and extraordinary measures taken by friends and well-wishers in the search for McCrystal and bringing her back home.
They acknowledge the heartbreaking reality of not finding her, a result they had not wished for and find challenging to come to terms with.
Describing McCrystal as a remarkable individual who navigated life with a blend of determination and joy, the statement notes that her absence will create a void in the skyrunning community, Squamish, and beyond.
“While we deeply wish we could have located her, we find solace in knowing that she was engaged in what brought her utmost joy until her final moments, and that she remains in the mountains, her cherished abode,” the statement concludes.