Mountain athlete Kilian Jornet has successfully completed his monumental "States of Elevation" challenge. In a feat that redefines endurance, Jornet climbed all the 14,000-foot peaks in the contiguous United States, traveling between them entirely by bike and foot.
Initially projected as a 67-peak challenge, Jornet ultimately summited 72 peaks across Colorado, California, and Washington, finishing the project in just 31 days.
Project Profile: States of Elevation
Following his Alpine Connections project (where he linked all 82 4000m peaks in the Alps), Jornet brought his self-powered philosophy to the vast landscapes of the American West. The project required linking the dense clusters of Colorado 14ers with the distant giants of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades.
| Project Name | States of Elevation |
| Athlete | Kilian Jornet (Spain/Norway) |
| Objective | Link all 14,000ft+ peaks in the contiguous US by human power |
| Total Summits | 72 Peaks |
| Duration | 31 Days (Sept 3 – Oct 4, 2025) |
| Total Distance | ~5,145 km (3,198 miles) |
| Elevation Gain | ~123,045 m (403,740 ft) |
The Journey Breakdown
The logistics of "States of Elevation" were significantly more complex than his European projects due to the vast distances between mountain ranges.
- Colorado (The Density): The bulk of the climbing occurred here, where Jornet linked massive chains of peaks. He included iconic traverses like Nolan’s 14 and the Elks Traverse within the larger project. He started on Longs Peak and moved systematically through the state's 50+ summits.
- The Transition (The Grind): Unlike the Alps, where peaks are relatively close, the American West required massive bike stages. Jornet cycled hundreds of miles across the deserts of Utah and Nevada to reach California.
- California & Washington (The Technical): In the Sierra Nevada, he tackled technical routes like the "Norman's 13" link-up. The project concluded in the Pacific Northwest with the glaciated volcanoes, finishing on Mount Rainier.
Why This Matters
This project is widely considered one of the greatest endurance feats in history. Jornet averaged roughly a marathon of running plus a Tour de France stage of cycling every single day for a month, often on 4-5 hours of sleep.
