The athlete is Kalie McCrystal, a skyrunner and mountaineer. She was last seen on Tuesday climbing Italy’s Matterhorn, a 4,481‑metre‑tall horn‑shaped mountain that looks over the Swiss town of Zermatt.

McCrystal has many years of experience in technical, high‑altitude environments and she has climbed the Matterhorn before. The statement said this was not her first ascent of the mountain.

Athletics Canada said they hope she returns safely and they are grateful to everyone helping with the search.

Riley Webb, a close friend from Squamish, British Columbia, said Kalie is an accomplished mountain runner, a lawyer, and a caring friend.