From Elks to Nolans:
Colorado’s Highs
The Elks Traverse and Nolan’s 14, two of Colorado’s most iconic fourteeners routes, pushed Kilian through long miles, steep climbs, and challenging terrain, with thunder, rain, and snow, marking the latest chapter in his project
18 September 2025
After the first three stages, Kilian took a recovery day cycling roughly 56 mi from Twin Lakes to Aspen to rest and refuel. The next morning he left for the Elks Traverse, a grueling 20-plus-hour effort, joined by elite athletes Ryan Hall and Simi Hamilton. Together they moved across rugged terrain, testing endurance and strategy. With little rest after finishing, Kilian turned to Nolan’s 14, one of Colorado’s most notorious fourteeners linkups. After cycling over Independence Pass and a brief pause for a family call, he set off toward La Plata Peak with Lewis Wu. Wildfires forced an early route adjustment, but the real challenge came later: thunder, rain, and snow on Ellingwood Ridge, slowing progress. As night fell, he pushed on alone before heading toward Mt. Princeton. There he was joined by Sage Canaday to tackle the final peaks, finishing around 6:00 a.m., nearly two full days after starting. Overall, Kilian covered 841 mi, summited 32 fourteeners, and climbed more than 142,028 ft.
Stay high and dry
Throughout the first weeks of States of Elevation, Kilian faced one of the toughest September weather Colorado locals can recall: cold, wind, rain, and snow.
In these conditions, he relied on Tomir GORE-TEX® version. While crossing the Tenmile Range with rain and snow, they proved their worth, giving Kilian the extra protection and stability needed when conditions turned wet or technical. A key piece of his kit.
The Tomir GORE-TEX® is built for the long haul, combining cushioning and support with waterproof protection to stay high and dry.
“Nolan’s surprised me for how wild it is. More than 50% of the terrain is off-trail - either forests where you have to make your way through bushes and tree branches, or in the mountains through scree or ridges.”
Understanding Kilian’s Effort
As part of States of Elevation, Kilian is continuously tracking his progress and output with his COROS watch, using Training Load as his benchmark for how much stress each day places on his body.
Training Load blends heart rate and duration to capture not just how far he travels, but how hard his system is working. In 2025, Kilian has averaged a Training Load of around 130 per day. This is already a demanding baseline that reflects steady high-level endurance work.
However, in the first part of his States of Elevation project, Kilian’s daily Training Load jumped to an average of 544. More than four times his usual stress, with some segments reaching in excess of 870. That’s the equivalent of stacking multiple marathons back-to-back at altitude, often with very little sleep in between. This surge in stress doesn’t only affect his muscles and recovery, but it also places heavy demands on his decision-making, as the brain competes with the body for limited energy. By keeping a close eye on these COROS metrics, Kilian can adapt his fueling, recovery, and pacing strategies in real time. In a project where the effort is so great and the terrain unforgiving, this data-driven awareness is what helps him make calculated decisions on when to push, when to pause, and ultimately, how far he can go.
Activity
14ers achieved / +4 000 m Peaks
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Total activity hours
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Discover a selection of gear chosen by Kilian Jornet to support the States of Elevation adventure.
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