Kilian Jornet continues his States of Elevation quest with 15 new California summits
With the hardest miles behind him, Jornet looks ahead to the project’s final two summits: Mt. Rainier and Liberty Cap
After enjoying the demanding Colorado mountains, mountain athlete Kilian Jornet has now powered through California in his ongoing States of Elevation project. Over the course of several intense days, Jornet summited 15 peaks of 14,000-foot, including iconic peaks such as White Mountain, Mount Shasta, and the rugged Sierra Nevada group.
Norman’s 13 has been one of the highlights of my trip. The terrain is incredible for mountaineering, with endless wilderness, the beautiful John Muir Trail, colorful lakes, and forests that make you feel immersed in nature. Over nearly 100 miles and almost three days, I didn’t cross a single sign of humans outside of the trail—no roads, no villages—just pure wilderness. It’s rare to find that kind of remoteness, where you carry a bivy and can sleep anywhere you want. The conditions were tough, with snowstorms rolling in just as we were preparing for the summits, which made things more challenging, but also more exciting. I was really happy to share parts of the journey with other athletes who know these mountains so well; their connection to the land made it even more special. Kilian Jornet
After completing California, Kilian Jornet has now summited 71 fourteeners in States of Elevation, including 56 in Colorado and 15 more in California, achieved in just 25 days and over 440 hours of combined activity on foot and by bike. With the vast majority of the project now behind him, only two fourteeners remain to close an unprecedented human-powered journey across the highest summits of the United States.
After completing 16 days in Colorado and covering more than 1,400 kilometers by bike across the desert, Kilian Jornet turned his focus to California’s 15 fourteeners. All but two lie within the Sierra Nevada, where his first challenge was Norman’s 13 — regarded as the state’s answer to Colorado’s Nolan’s 14. The route links thirteen summits over 85 to 90 rugged miles, and Jornet has described it as his favorite stage of the project so far.
Despite 23 days on the move, Kilian managed to advance pretty quickly resulting in a new supported FKT for Norman’s 13 traverse. (pending confirmation)
It’s been long, technical, and fun—and honestly, I haven’t thought much about the FKT. When scouting, I saw there were possibilities to move fast, but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel after so many days of activity. To see that, after 23 days, I can still move quickly—it feels good Kilian Jornet
The final two fourteeners of California, Mt. Shasta and White Mountain Peak, closed Kilian’s pass through the state. Leaving behind all the main technical ascends and traverses of the project, Jornet has the final stretch of States of Elevation where he will aim to summit the last peaks of the project located in the state of Washington: Mt. Rainier and Liberty Cap.
Overall Project Stats
🏃🏻 Distance (miles / km): 2,738 / 4,406
🏔️ 14,000 ft peaks: 71
⏱️ Activity: 441:38:19
📈 Elevation gain (ft / m): 376,200 / 114.682
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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.