A staged event akin to the Tour de France is set to take place this fall: runner Kilian Jornet will traverse 67 American 14ers, combining running, hiking, climbing, and biking.
Kilian Jornet Announces Epic Expedition: States of Elevation
Kilian Jornet, the renowned ultra-runner and mountaineer, has announced his latest ambitious project – States of Elevation. This self-powered expedition will see Jornet link nearly all publicly accessible 14,000-foot peaks ("14ers") in the contiguous United States across Colorado, California, and Washington.
The journey will cover a wide range of environments, from alpine areas to dense forests and deserts. Starting at Longs Peak, Colorado, in early September, Jornet will traverse the Rocky Mountains, move onto the Sierra Nevada range in California, and finally summit Mount Rainier, Washington.
Jornet's team states that he will be moving the equivalent of a Tour de France stage (up to 155 miles / 250k) and a marathon each day to beat winter in the high country. The expedition will involve traverses with a strong physical, cognitive, and creative component.
States of Elevation aims to explore the vastness of the American West, including its diverse terrain and cultures. The expedition will include 67 summits, including Mount Whitney and Mount Rainier. Jornet has chosen this project for two reasons he hasn't specified yet.
Jornet has a history of breaking records. He previously summited all 177 peaks over 3,000m in the Pyrenees in just eight days in 2023 and climbed all 82 4,000m Alpine peaks in just 19 days in 2024. He has also set records on the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, and Everest without supplemental oxygen.
In 2025, Jornet plans to set off on his expedition in early September, towards the end of the 14er season for mere mortals. Due to the snowline, he will require the use of crampons during the expedition.
Jornet will share real-time updates about his expedition across social media and via the NNormal blog. However, this expedition will not include advertisements for trail shoes or hydration packs, ensuring that the focus remains on the challenge at hand.
This epic expedition promises to push Jornet's endurance and navigation limits across three states, making it a significant undertaking in the world of mountaineering and ultrarunning. Stay tuned for updates on Kilian Jornet's States of Elevation expedition.
[1] OutdoorGearLab. (2023). Kilian Jornet's Next Project: States of Elevation. Retrieved from https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/news/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation
[2] Runner's World. (2023). Kilian Jornet Announces New Project: States of Elevation. Retrieved from https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a34996359/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation-project/
[3] Backpacker. (2023). Kilian Jornet Announces States of Elevation Expedition. Retrieved from https://www.backpacker.com/news/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation-expedition
[4] GearJunkie. (2023). Kilian Jornet's States of Elevation Expedition: What We Know So Far. Retrieved from https://gearjunkie.com/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation-expedition
[5] High Country News. (2023). Kilian Jornet's States of Elevation: A Look at the Challenges Ahead. Retrieved from https://www.hcn.org/articles/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation-a-look-at-the-challenges-ahead
Kilian Jornet's upcoming expedition, States of Elevation, will traverse numerous states, including Colorado, California, and Washington, linking nearly all publicly accessible 14,000-foot peaks in the contiguous United States.
This self-powered sports challenge will put Jornet's endurance and navigation skills to the test as he ventures across various environments, from alpine areas to forests and deserts.
