Kilian Jornet Sets New FKT on Norman's 13 After Desert Cycling
Kilian Jornet, a renowned mountaineer and endurance athlete, has completed another remarkable feat. After cycling nearly 900 miles across the desert Southwest, Jornet reached California, where he set a new fastest known time (FKT) on the challenging alpine linkup, Norman's 13.
Jornet's project, 'States of Elevation', aims to summit all 72 of the contiguous U.S.'s 14ers. He began his journey at Longs Peak in Colorado, where he has already summited 56 of the state's 14,000-foot peaks in just over 2 weeks. His latest challenge, Norman's 13 in California, involved about 100 miles of total distance and 39,000 feet of elevation gain.
The previous FKT for Norman's 13 was set by Jason Hardrath in 2022, at a little over 3 days and 2 hours. Jornet completed the route in 56 hours, 11 minutes, and 4 seconds, surpassing the previous record by over 19 hours. Norman's 13 is considered more technical than its Colorado cousin, Nolan's 14.
Kilian Jornet's 'Alpine Connections' project seeks to benefit medical science and climate advocacy. With his impressive FKT on Norman's 13, Jornet continues to push the boundaries of human endurance and raise awareness for important causes. He has now moved on to the next phase of his project, White Mountain.
