Today, Kilian Jornet topped out on Mount Rainier, marking the successful completion of his States of Elevation project.
The Spanish mountaineer and ultrarunner has climbed all 72 accessible 14,000-foot peaks in the contiguous United States. His scorchingly quick journey began on September 3 at Longs Peak, Colorado.
Mount Rainier. Photo: Cascades Volcano Observatory
Over 31 grueling days, Jornet covered more than 5,000km, linking summits across Colorado, California, and Washington through a blend of running and cycling, all under his own power.
The project saw Jornet tackle an average of over 160km daily — equivalent to Tour de France stages — while ascending technical routes like the LA Freeway and Nolan’s 14. With minimal sleep, often just 4.5 hours per night, he navigated extreme conditions, from desert heat exceeding 38°C to subzero temperatures on Rainier.
His approach emphasized the journey itself, as he noted the “quiet miles” and “shared ridges” between peaks.
The total stats just before his last summit, Mount Rainier. Photo: Kilian Jornet
Today’s ascent of 4,392m Mount Rainier culminated a grueling month-long odyssey that built on his past feats, including 2024’s linkup of the Alps’ 82 peaks above 4,000m in 19 days.
More on this historic achievement will follow as details emerge.
Kilian’s motto for the challenge. Photo: Kilian Jornet
