Kilian Jornet Completes Colorado's Fourteeners as Part of States of Elevation Project

Mountain athlete Kilian Jornet has successfully completed the first part of the States of Elevation project in the Colorado mountains. Over the course of 16 days, Jornet traversed by foot and by bike Colorado’s rugged terrain, summiting 14,000-foot peaks and tackling some of the state's most iconic and difficult mountain routes. States of Elevation is Kilian Jornet’s project where he will creatively try to connect fourteeners ​ (peaks over 14,000 feet / 4.200m) across the US on foot and by bike.

It feels great to have finished Colorado: the mountains are stunning, and the wilderness is truly special. During the first two weeks the weather was really tough , which added an extra layer of challenge. The first week I felt terrible—probably because of the jet lag and the altitude—but then I started to feel better and better, even if the weather kept being difficult. In those first two weeks we only had three days of sun, which made things harder. Colorado it’s the biggest section of the project, with the most summits and some of the hardest navigation, so it was very exciting. Kilian Jornet

Jornet's journey, which began on September 3rd, saw him climb the 56 public fourteeners in Colorado, with key highlights including iconic traverses like the LA Freeway, Elks and Nolan’s 14, as well as some of Colorado’s most iconic summits like Mount Elbert and Pikes Peak. These technical routes, requiring both endurance and expertise, challenged Jornet to navigate Colorado’s unpredictable weather and relentless terrain, from fierce storms to intense winds. Despite these obstacles, Jornet embraced the experience, finding profound connection and awe in the raw beauty of the American wilderness.

How big is that? Every day, he was on the move for about 16½ hours—roughly 70% of the day—covering a marathon on foot, another 74–80 km by bike, and ~4,875 m of vertical, 16 days straight. All told, that’s 78,004 m of climbing (almost nine Everests) and a route about as long as Denver to San Francisco—over mountain terrain.

Throughout his journey, Kilian was supported by a dedicated community of athletes who contributed their time, knowledge, and expertise. Kyle Richardson joined him on Longs Peak, with Lael Wilcox riding with him in the night. Sam Wescott ran with Kilian on Quandary Peak while Ken Gordon (Hardrock 100 board member), along with Gavin McKenzie (NNormal advocate), joined to climb the highest summits in Colorado.. Simi Hamilton (Elks FKT) joined on Capitol Peak, with Ryan Hall joining later. Lewis Wu (Coros co-founder) ran on La Plata Peak, and Sage Canaday joined to complete the Nolan’s 14 traverse. Western States runner up Chris Myers together with Hans Troyer accompanied Kilian on Pikes Peak. As Kilian continued his journey, Anna Frost, Meghan Hicks, and Bryon Powell joined at Handies Peak, and Scott Simons on the bike approach. NNormal athlete Dakota Jones accompanied Kilian from Mount Sneffels and continued through the Chicago Basin, with Joe Grant joining him at the basin to complete the final push.

©Nick Danielson — States Of Elevation©Nick Danielson — States Of Elevation

Additionally, the Kilian Jornet Foundation connected with local communities supporting conversations. To date, it has collaborated with inspiring local organizations such as Runners4PublicLands, Where The Climate Things Are, Outdoor Alliance, Trails and Open Spaces Coalition, the Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Sierra Nevada Alliance and POW; among others, in support of the campaign. Through these partnerships , the KJF team hosted Running Minds events that brought together over 500 participants across Denver, Colorado Springs, and Durango, while also participating in hands-on trail restoration in Colorado Springs. These efforts — from trail maintenance to rewilding and habitat rehabilitation — demonstrate how communities can protect and restore nature. As Kilian continues his journey, the KJF will keep exploring, learning, and sharing stories of resilience and community.

Overall Colorado Stats

Stage Breakdown

Long(s) Day on LA Freeway — September 3rd

On day one, he took on one of the most iconic routes: the LA Freeway. Along the traverse, he summited 24 peaks, including Longs Peak—the highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, and now the very first 14er of the project. Kyle Richardson joined Kilian for the summit push on Longs Peak (14,259 feet), before Kilian pressed on solo to complete the entire traverse in just over 16 hours. The thin Colorado air added an extra challenge, as Kilian's body starts adapting to the demanding high-altitude terrain of the Rockies. After completing the LA Freeway, Kilian jumped on the bike to cover 49 mi / 79 km by bike. Lael Wilcox, ultra-endurance cycling champion, joined Kilian to make the last push south to Echo Lake campground.

Blue Sky to Gray(s) Clouds — September 4th/5th

Kilian barely slept following the LA Freeway epic, and he woke up feeling every one of those 16 hours as well as the Colorado altitude in his body.The morning brought Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Evans) and Bierstadt, but Colorado’s afternoon storms had other plans. A weather system rolled in, forcing route changes that added 4 hours to the day. Kilian pushed through to bag Grays and Torreys before finally reaching the team around 10:30pm. A solid 6-hour sleep worked its magic and dawn was the reset. Starting at 5am with hydration and nutrition dialed in, Kilian took a short gravel ride from Chiwawa Lake through Breckenridge and Keystone to Quandary Peak trailhead. Rain greeted him from the start. Teaming up with Sam Wescott, Quandary Peak fell into place, followed by a quick gravel spin to Roberts Road to close the stage.

Mosquito Range — September 5th/6th

Kilian first took on the Mosquito Range: a big 7+ hours effort that led him through four fourteeners on a single ridge: Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Sherman, and flirted with Mount Bross, a peak that remains off-limits due to private landowners restricting hiker access, a common challenge in the American West where mining claims and private property often complicate mountain access. After a short evening transition ride, he settled in for the night after midnight, letting his body reset for what lay ahead.

Giant of the Rockies — September 7th

Dawn brought the bitter cold. Kilian rolled out for nearly 3 hours through Leadville, at 10,200 feet (3095m), the highest incorporated city in the United States, chasing the sun toward Holy Cross Trailhead. Despite the chilly start, Kilian felt strong, his body finally finding its rhythm in the thin air. ​ The Holy Cross ascent went well, in high spirits and good weather for the summit push. Just over 3:49 hours to the top and back, with Colorado showing its best side. After summiting Holy Cross out-and-back in the morning, Kilian had his sights set on Colorado’s giants: the state’s two highest peaks in a single late afternoon push.A ride with Ken Gordon, Colorado local and board member of the legendary Hardrock 100 member positioned him for an epic traverse of Mount Massive (14,428ft/4,398m) and Mount Elbert (14,440ft/4,401m), both sitting in the Sawatch Range and the tallest peaks in the entire Rocky Mountains. At 5:00 PM, Kilian was joined by Gavin McKenzie (and a few Rocky Mountain goats) at Evergreen Lakes trailhead to start the journey. The plan was to complete the traverse in around 8 hours, but after moving almost continuously for almost 20 hours, Kilian was feeling the fatigue and decided to dial back the pace on the uphills. Around 3:40 in the morning, two headlamps cut through the darkness at Twin Lakes, wrapping up the day exhausted but in good spirits.

Transition Day — September 7th

Jornet took what he called a “rest” day, pedaling 87 km (54 miles) from Twin Lakes through Aspen, positioning himself for the next stage in the Elk Range.

The Elks Traverse — September 8th

Kilian was ready to takle one of the most icoinc routes in Colorado: The Elks Traverse ​ that spans seven fourteeners: Capitol Peak, Snowmass, Maroon Peak, North Maroon Peak, Pyramid Peak, Conundrum Peak, and Castle Peak. The day started around 4:00 AM with the current Elks Traverse FKT record holder Simi Hamilton joining Kilian for the adventure. Latar in the day, Ryan Hall, long-distance running atlethe joined him and ran together until Castle Peak. After a difficult (but expected) first week battling jetlag and Colorado’s thin air, Elks was Kilian’s breakthrough moment. For just over 21.5 hours, he moved through the day feeling strong from start to finish and thoroughly enjoying everything the mountains had to offer.

No Rest on Nolan's — September 9th/10th

After finishing the Elks Traverse, Kilian allowed himself barely 3.5 hours of rest as the next traverse, Nolan’s 14, perhaps Colorado’s most notorious fourteeners linkup, was already on his mind. Kilian had already summited the first two—Massive and Elbert—on September 6, before detouring to complete the Elks Traverse. Now it was time to return and face the remaining twelve. That morning, after cycling over Independence Pass back to Twin Lakes—pausing mid-ride for a family video call—Kilian set off around lunchtime toward La Plata Peak, joined by Coros co-founder Lewis Wu. Wildfires forced an early route adjustment, but the real challenge came later: thunder, rain, and snow caught them on Ellingwood Ridge, forcing several stops for shelter and delaying the plan. As night fell, Kilian continued alone, finally reaching the van at 1:30 AM. Despite the relentless conditions, he looked upbeat, ate well, and managed a 30-minute nap before setting off again toward Mt. Princeton. There he was met by legendary American runner Sage Canaday, who joined him for the long night ahead. Together they endured snow on Mt. Shavano and pushed through the final three Nolan’s peaks, wrapping up around 6:00 AM—nearly two full days after he had started.

Pikes Peak on Empty — September 11th

On the morning of September 11, after his 69-hour epic on the Elks and the remaining 12 peaks of Nolan’s, he allowed himself just a 3-hour nap, a shower, and a big breakfast before leaving around noon to start a 160 km bike ride to Pikes Peak. Feeling more tired than usual, he even resorted to coffee — something we rarely see him do. Bad weather seems to be Kilian’s constant partner in this project, and wind and rain were also part of this journey. At the trailhead (after a quick 30’ nap), he was joined by Chris Myers (Western States 2025 runner-up) and ultrarunning rising star Hans Troyer to start their Pikes Peak ascent at 8:30PM. Returning to the parking lot at night, they all looked tired but happy to have completed a peak that Kilian had visited before running the iconic Pikes Peak marathon,.

Snow on Sangre de Cristo — September 12th/13th

After coming down from Pikes Peak past midnight on September 11, Kilian woke up early Friday morning and started a 94 miles (151km) gravel bike ride to the Sangre de Cristo range. Arriving late afternoon in deteriorating weather conditions, he strategically waited in the van as rain and wind intensified, using that time to nap, eat, and set up his new phone as the previous had died - a recurrent "accident" for phones on Kilian's projects. After nightfall, Kilian ventured out alone into the darkness towards Humboldt Peak. Encountering storms, snow, and wind, he took the decision to retreat, returning to the van around 2AM. The next morning, although still windy, brought clearer skies and a second chance. Kilian went back to complete the Crestone Group traverse (Crestone Needle, Crestone Peak, Kit Carson & Challenger Point) through snow-covered terrain. 10 hours later, Kilian was wrapping up what turned out to be a very beautiful traverse with the kind of terrain that Kilian enjoys and that made him scramble most of the day.

Blanca Range — September 14th

After completing the Crestone traverse, Kilian woke up early next day and started his gravel ride to the Blanca Range, still part of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, one of Colorado’s most remote and technical fourteener groups. For once, the weather seemed to cooperate, and around 8AM, Kilian left under clear skies for what would become his favorite route of the entire project. The Blanca Range demanded everything: exposed ridges, Class 3-4 scrambling, and snow-covered summits in freezing conditions. Kilian summited Ellingwood Point, Blanca Peak, Mt. Lindsey and Little Bear Peak. Returning to the van around 7PM, energized and elated, Kilian ate a solid meal then immediately started his next bike ride into the evening.

San Luis (San Juans) — September 15th

The stage started with an early 67 miles (107km) bike to connect the Sangre de Cristo range to the San Juan's. The ride took Kilian through changing Colorado landscapes and the quaint little town of Creede, followed by a 27 miles (44km) run through the mountains, starting on the Continental Divide trail and bagging the summit of San Luis. A short second ride to the night’s campsite ended what turned out to be a long day on the move. However, perfect weather conditions and stunning fall colors made for one of the most scenic days of the project. Waking up early next day, Kilian set out to climb five fourteeners across two separate San Juan mountain groups, in familiar territory from his five previous Hardrock participations. Enjoying the beautiful weather (at last!), he climbed Uncompahgre Peak and Wetterhorn Peak in the morning.

Sneffels (San Juans) — September 16th

After completing the first peaks on the San Juans range, Kilian took a gravel ride to Mill Creek trailhead, then linked Red Cloud Peak, Sunshine Peak, and Handies Peak. Anna Frost, Meghan Hicks (former Nolan’s 14 FKT record holder!) and Bryon Powell, joined him for the last peak and enjoyed a cold but beautiful sunset on the summit, before descending to Animas Forks following the Hardrock course. To wrap up the day, Kilian rode down to Ouray in the dark with Scott Simons with what Kilian considered technical terrain that pushed his gravel skills. ​ The next day served up a true San Juan epic: 18 hours, four summits, and great company in some of Colorado’s wildest mountains. The day kicked off with a gravel bike approach alongside Scottt Simmons, meeting NNormal teammate Dakota Jones at the Mount Sneffels trailhead. Together, they topped out on Sneffels under perfect bluebird skies and did a quick descent.

The Wilsons (San Juans) — September 17th

After completing the Seffles, Kilian and Dakota pedaled west, chasing the afternoon light into the Lizard Head Wilderness. ​ What followed was a massive 25 miles (41 km) traverse connecting Wilson Peak, El Diente Peak, and Mt. Wilson, with touches of Class IV climbing adding extra spice to an 18 hours day.

Colorado Finale — September 18th

Kilian wrapped up his Colorado Fourteener journey in style, deep in the remote Chicago Basin, with Dakota Jones once again by his side. The Stage began with a chilly gravel ride to the Purgatory Flats trailhead, followed by nearly four hours of running just to reach the start of the real climbing. The mission: tackle Colorado’s four most remote fourteeners — Mt. Eolus, North Eolus, Sunlight Peak, and Windom Peak. Local friends joined for a few miles, and Colorado’s Joe Grant met the crew in the basin. For the third day in a row, sunset was spent on a summit, this time atop Sunlight, in one of Colorado’s wildest corners. Fuel ran low on Windom’s slopes, with Kilian’s last snack long gone and hours still left to go. Salvation arrived when a runner appeared out of nowhere with a Snickers bar, shared it with him, and ended up tagging along for more than two hours.After Windom Peak, Kilian and the team finished the Colorado leg of this project.

©Nick Danielson — States Of Elevation©Nick Danielson — States Of Elevation

Key achievements

LA Freeway

A 35 mi // 56km with 18,400 ft // 5.600 m traverse that connects Longs Peak and the Arapahoe Peaks and tops 24 peaks. The name plays on the initials L.A. from Longs Peak and South Arapaho Peak, the two mountains that mark the start and finish of the route. This traverse delivers a unique blend of challenges, blurring the line between ultra running and technical climbing. Between Longs and South Arapaho it rarely drops below 12,000 ft // 3.650 m, never intersects a road, and crosses just two trails. The terrain is relentlessly technical: long stretches of 3rd and 4th Class scrambling, and if you follow the most direct lines, nearly a dozen 5th Class pitches that demand serious commitment.

Elks Traverse

One of Colorado’s most technical and committing skyline linkups. It follows the serrated ridgeline of the Elk Mountains, connecting the seven 14ers: Castle, Conundrum, Capitol, Maroon, North Maroon, Pyramid and Snowmass — all above 14,000 ft // 4,267 m. Unlike longer endurance challenges such as Nolan’s 14, the Elks Traverse is relatively short in distance 55 mi // 88 km, but what it lacks in mileage it makes up for in pure technical difficulty. The route is dominated by exposed 4th and 5th Class terrain on notoriously loose Elk Mountains rock, demanding solid alpine climbing skills and absolute concentration. Retreat options are limited, and once committed to the ridge, athletes face hours of sustained scrambling and climbing.

Nolan’s 14

One of the most legendary ultra-endurance challenges in the United States, especially in Colorado. It’s a high–mountain traverse that links 14 peaks over 14,000 ft // 4.267 m in Colorado’s Sawatch Range. The route runs from Mount Massive to Mount Shavano. In total, it covers around 95 mi // 153 km with more than 46,000 ft // 14.000 m of elevation gain, and athletes traditionally aim to complete it within 60 hours. It’s basically Kilian's idea of a fun weekend — no sleep and endless climbing.

Mount Elbert

The highest peak in Colorado and the second-highest in the contiguous United States.

Pikes Peak

One of Colorado’s most iconic fourteeners, often called “America’s Mountain”. It’s home to the legendary Pikes Peak Marathon and the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb car race — and is one of the few fourteeners you can actually access by car.

Crestone Group

group of four fourteeners in the Sangre de Cristo Range above Crestone, central southern Colorado, comprising: Crestone Peak, Creston Needle, Kit Carson Mountain and Humboldt Peak.

Blanca Group

It’s a sub-group of mountains centered on Blanca Peak and located in the Sangre de Cristo Range too. This group also includes: Ellingwood Point, Little Bear Peak and Mount Lindsey.

San Juan's

The San Juan’s are one of the grandest mountain ranges in America. Spanning the Continental Divide, the San Juan Mountains contain rough and jagged volcanic summits, 13 of which rise to over 14,000 feet. The highest and most prominent is Uncompahgre Peak at 14,309 feet, the sixth-largest in all of the Rocky Mountain chain. Some of the range’s most popular peaks include Mt. Sneffels and peaks Hanides, Wetterhorn, Redcloud, and Sunshine.

Media Gallery

Media gallery: Colorado — States of Elevation

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Kilian Jornet

About States of Elevation

States of Elevation is Kilian Jornet’s latest personal project: a human-powered journey to link 14,000-foot peaks across the United States by foot and bike. A uniquely demanding challenge, Kilian will average the equivalent of a Tour de France stage and a marathon each day—at high altitude and over technical terrain. Beyond the physical effort, the project reflects Kilian’s deep connection to wild places and his ongoing pursuit of meaning through endurance, nature, and exploration.

About Kilian

KILIAN JORNET is widely regarded as one of the greatest mountain athletes of all time. With his vision, he has redefined what’s possible in trail running, ski mountaineering, and mountain projects, always guided by ​ a consistent set of values. Today, his impact extends well beyond sport.

Mountains are Kilian’s home and inspiration: they ground him and push him forward. Through more than two decades in mountain sports, he’s made a career by pushing limits—physically, as well as in how we design gear and care for things that matter.

As the co-founder of NNORMAL, Kilian brings his personal experience into product development—striving to create gear that reflects how he moves and what he believes in: durability, function, and responsibility. Through the KILIAN JORNET FOUNDATION, he advocates for the preservation of mountain environments and works to raise awareness of the climate challenges facing our planet. Whether through competition, entrepreneurship, or activism, Kilian uses his voice to inspire a more conscious way of moving through the world.