After linking all 56 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in 16 days, Kilian Jornet is keeping the same incredible pace in California. This includes a new FKT on the so-called Norman’s 13 — the 13 14,000-foot summits in the Sierra Nevada.
Jornet’s performance data on the accessible 14’ers in Colorado are simply mind-blowing: 16 days. 56 peaks. 78,004m climbed. Every day linked by 74-80km on the bike, a marathon on foot, and nearly 5,000m of vertical.
Kilian Jornet in California’s Sierra Nevada. Photo: @nickmdanielson / @andrewfitts
Then he hopped on a bike and cycled 1,500km across the southwestern deserts to California.
“The [cycling] wasn’t just a transition, but an adventure in its own right,” Jornet’s team wrote. “The route twisted through Colorado’s high canyons, passed briefly through New Mexico, brushed the red rocks of Arizona, and stretched into the endless Mojave.”
Jornet pedaled non-stop for five days, covering an average of 282km per day and chaining 11, 12, or even 15 hours of cycling in variable weather, from high winds and rain to 38°C temperatures.
Finally, the desert gave way to the Sierra Nevada. Then the Spanish athlete took up the California part of his States of Elevation. The project aims to cover all the 14,000-foot mountains in the Lower 48, cycling and hiking between them.
Norman’s 13 FKT
Norman’s 13 is the Sierra Nevada’s version of Colorado’s Nolan’s 14 (which Jornet completed on the previous stage). Its 13 summits comprise two clusters linked by a stretch of the wild John Muir Trail, and a whole lot of granite, weather, and wilderness.
“Roughly 100 miles (160km), nearly 39,000 vertical feet (12,000m), and scrambling on ridges where every move counts,” his team wrote.
Once again, local running pros accompanied Jornet, including Norman’s 13 FKT holders Matt Zupan and Olivia Amber and Piolet d’Or winner Matt Cornell. During those three days in California’s most rugged mountains, the weather was not friendly.
“Conditions started great, but turned challenging: snowstorms hit right as we reached the technical sections, making things a bit spicy,” he said. “I crushed my foot with a boulder. I could sometimes ignore the pain for a few hours and forget about it, but it came back. And sleep deprivation hit hard this morning as we were going up Mount Sill, but thankfully, the sunrise brought new energy.”
Ultimately, Jornet completed the 163km of Norman’s 13 in 56:11:04. The team believes it’s a new FKT, pending official confirmation.
Bishop break
At the end of the stage in the town of Bishop, Jornet did something unusual: rest. Real rest, with a shower, a pizza, and a hotel bed.
By Saturday morning, Jornet was again on the run to the top of White Mountain, the 70th 14,000’er on his list. That leaves just 2 to go.
Jornet’s stats after White Mountain. Photo: Jornet’s team
The scene now shifts to Northern California and his last peak in that state, Mount Shasta. Jornet then cycles to Mount Rainier, also in the Cascade Range, to complete his project, likely later this week.
