Kilian Jornet is a 37 year old man who aims to climb the 60+ tallest peaks in all of the United States, all within a month! Kilian is a passionate climber who has won multiple championships in the sport skyrunning. Skyrunning is very similar to trail running, although skyrunning is usually at very high altitudes. When at higher altitudes, there are less oxygen molecules that replenish your breath, which makes it a lot more challenging to climb or run high up.

The Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc is a french ultra marathon which is about 106 miles long. Around 2,500 people participate in this race annually, making the chances of winning slim to none. However, Kilian Jornet has already won this race 4 times! Kilian has also climbed all peaks above 400 meters or 13,123 feet in the European Alps, that is over 80 mountains! 

Jornet is calling the project “States of Elevation” and a rough estimate of the total distance is over 3,000 miles. 600 miles hiking or climbing, and 2,400 miles biking. Kilian plans on not using any motorized equipment or vehicles during his journey. He will have to climb mountains like Longs Peak, Mount Whitney, and Mount Elbert, all of which are over 14,000 feet high.

Cites –

 https://ecolosport.fr/blog/2021/02/07/interview-de-kilian-jornet/

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/30/kilian-jornet-california-14ers/

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/style/kilian-jornet-states-of-elevation-14ers.html

https://trailrunner.com/trail-news/a-conversation-with-kilian-jornet-about-his-outdoor-friendly-pledge/