72 fourteeners. 31 days.
One line.
Kilian Jornet has completed States of Elevation, a human-powered journey linking all of the United States’ fourteeners in the lower 48 by foot and bike, pushing through storms, fatigue, and thousands of kilometers to finish one of his most demanding and purposeful challenges yet.
4 October 2025
Total activity
14ers achieved / +4 000 m Peaks
72
Days of activity
31
Total elevation gain (ft/m)
403,740 / 123,045
Total running (miles/km)
629 / 1,012
Total cycling (miles/km)
2,568 / 4,133
Total activity in movement
488:52:07
In just over 31 days, he covered more than 5,145 kilometers (3,198 miles), climbed nearly 123,045 meters (403,740 ft) of vertical gain, and summited 72 fourteeners, all while averaging the equivalent of a Tour de France stage plus a marathon at altitude every single day.
The journey quickly grew into a test of mental and physical resilience, as Kilian battled the elements, fatigue, and the relentless pace of the challenge, proving his ability to adapt to all conditions.
It all began in Colorado, where he pushed through snow, rain, and high altitude to summit 56 fourteeners. He tackled the state’s most legendary linkups: including Nolan’s 14, the Elks Traverse, and the remote peaks of the San Juans, often moving for more than 16 hours a day. From there, a 1,400-kilometer desert ride led him into California.
There, he took on the state’s 15 fourteeners, including the Norman’s 13, the Sierra Nevada’s answer to Nolan’s 14 (in Colorado), calling it his favorite stage of the project, that delivered both beauty and brutality. Days without seeing a single person—just lakes, rock, and sky. After tagging White Mountain, one of California’s iconic summits, Kilian turned north, spending two long days riding across Nevada and California, straight towards Mount Shasta, fourteener number 71, battling what he called the “top three craziest winds I’ve ever had on a mountain,” with summit temperatures that felt like -20°C (–4°F).
The project reached its grand finale in Washington, where Kilian rode across Oregon before taking on Mt. Rainier. With this ascent, he sealed the final link in his human-powered adventure, completing his journey by summiting the last fourteener on the list.
For Kilian, this was not a race or a record attempt, but his most demanding and purposeful challenge yet: a story of resilience, imagination, and respect for the landscapes that shape us. By linking the highs and lows of 72 summits under his own power, he redefined what is possible, and reminded us of why we move through the mountains in the first place.
“I’m really happy to have made it this far. When I started this project, it was just an idea on a map—something I thought could be great, but I didn’t know if it would be possible. Now I see that it was, and beyond the numbers, it’s been a true adventure—a way to discover places that have become very special to me.“
Discover a selection of gear chosen by Kilian Jornet to support the States of Elevation adventure.
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