Family says missing Canadian mountaineer Kalie McCrystal likely fell on Matterhorn

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 16, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC NEWS

CANADA – The family of Canadian skyrunner and mountaineer Kalie McCrystal says she is believed to have fallen while descending the Matterhorn in the Alps, bringing an end to an extensive search for the athlete who had been missing for more than two weeks.

McCrystal, from Squamish, B.C., was last seen on Sept. 1 while attempting to break a mountain-running record on the 4,481-metre Matterhorn, which straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy.

In a statement shared by British Columbia provincial legislator Amelia Boultbee, a friend of McCrystal, her mother and sister said everything they know from the search points to a fall during her descent. They also thanked search and rescue crews and said they were confident that every possible effort had been made to locate her.

Friends, loved ones and members of the international mountaineering community also mobilized to help with the search, with the family saying people went to remarkable lengths to bring McCrystal home.

The family acknowledged that failing to find her was not the outcome they had hoped for and remains difficult to accept. McCrystal was remembered as someone who combined determination with a sense of fun, leaving a lasting impact on the skyrunning community, Squamish and other communities around the world.

Her disappearance has drawn attention from the international mountain-running community, where she was known for her achievements as a skyrunner and mountaineer. The Matterhorn attempt was part of her effort to push the limits of mountain running in one of the Alps’ most iconic peaks.

For her family, however, McCrystal’s legacy now goes beyond records and competition. They said they find some peace in knowing that she was doing what made her feel most alive and that she remains among the mountains where she felt most at home.