Climbing
In a superhuman feat of endurance and mountaineering skill, Spanish ultrarunner Kilian Jornet has climbed all 82 of the 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps in just 19 days. The self-powered journey, which Jornet called “Alpine Connections,” involved running, climbing, and cycling between peaks without mechanical assistance.
Jornet began his adventure on August 15th at Piz Bernina in Switzerland and concluded on September 2nd at the Barre des Écrins in France. During the 19-day expedition, he covered 750 miles (1,207 kilometers), gained 247,192 feet (75,344 meters) in elevation, and spent nearly 268 hours on the move.
Kilian Jornet completes Alpine Connections, “the most challenging thing I’ve ever done”
After completing stage 16 in the Ecrins massif, we can now confirm that Kilian has connected all 82 of the Alps’ 4,000-meter peaks in 19 days using only human-powered means.
The project is a… pic.twitter.com/0nkTzmvS9a
— Ian Corless (@Talkultra) September 1, 2024
“This was, without any doubt, the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life, mentally, physically, and technically, but also maybe the most beautiful.”
The 36-year-old athlete’s accomplishment shatters the previous record of 62 days set by Swiss alpinist Ueli Steck in 2015. Jornet’s feat is remarkable, given his minimal rest, averaging just over 5 hours of sleep per night.
Highlights of the journey included a grueling 30-hour push in the Mont Blanc massif, where Jornet summited 16 peaks in a single day. Throughout the project, he tackled technical climbs and traversed exposed ridges, often solo and in challenging weather conditions.
Jornet’s “Alpine Connections” project showcases his physical prowess and deep connection to the mountains. Reflecting on the experience, Jornet said, “It’s difficult to process all my emotions just now, but this is a journey that I will never forget.”
Kilian Jornet is widely regarded as one of the greatest ultrarunners of all time, with an impressive array of trail running and ski mountaineering achievements. He has won the prestigious Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) four times and holds the fastest completion time in the event’s history, finishing in under 20 hours. Jornet has also claimed numerous titles, including six Skyrunner World Series championships and multiple victories at iconic races such as the Hardrock 100 and Zegama-Aizkorri. His remarkable athleticism is complemented by significant feats in mountaineering, including two ascents of Mount Everest in a week without supplemental oxygen. In 2019, he set the world record for the most vertical feet skied under human powder (77,000 feet) in 24 hours (which stood until this year.)
Ironically, Jornet was inspired to undertake the Alpine Connections project as a form of rebellion against the commercialization and environmental impact of organized competitions.
