Renowned endurance athlete Kilian Jornet has launched an extraordinary expedition to ascend every 14,000-foot peak within the continental United States, navigating the distances between these formidable summits solely by cycling and trekking. This ambitious undertaking, dubbed 'States of Altitude,' represents a pinnacle of athletic endurance and strategic planning, captivating the attention of the adventure community. Despite the challenging conditions and the sheer scale of the project, Jornet has initiated his journey with an impressive display of resilience and strength in the rugged Colorado Rockies.

The monumental project commenced on September 3rd in Colorado, where Jornet tackled the challenging LA Freeway traverse, extending from Longs Peak to South Arapaho Peak along the Continental Divide. Remarkably, he maintained an elevation above 12,000 feet throughout this initial leg, conquering numerous peaks in a span of 16 hours, even without prior acclimatization to the high altitude. Following this intense mountaineering effort, he transitioned seamlessly into a 79-kilometer night gravel bike ride towards Echo Lake campground, embodying his philosophy that 'sometimes, the best recovery is to keep moving.'

Jornet's initial stages of the expedition were bolstered by the support of local companions, including mountaineer Kyle Richardson for the initial traverse and ultra-endurance cyclist Lael Wilcox for the journey to Echo Lake. His relentless pace continued into the second day with minimal rest, as he ascended Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Evans) and Bierstadt. Unforeseen afternoon storms in Colorado, however, necessitated route adjustments, extending his day by four hours. Despite this, he persevered, reaching the summits of Grays and Torreys before finally regrouping with his support team late in the evening.

Continuing his incredible feat, Jornet added Quandary Peak to his list after just six hours of sleep and another gravel cycling segment. By this point, he had accumulated a staggering 259 kilometers of travel by foot and bike over 41 hours of continuous movement, successfully summiting six of Colorado's fourteeners. Day three saw him conquer Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Sherman in the Mosquito range. Access restrictions on privately owned land prevented him from summiting Mount Bross, a testament to the unpredictable nature of such an expansive endeavor.

Day four presented even greater challenges, beginning with a rapid ascent and descent of Holy Cross Peak in under four hours. He then cycled to the Sawatch range to embark on a traverse of Colorado's highest peaks: Mount Massive and Mount Elbert. Collaborating with Gavin Mackenzie, he scaled both giants in a single, late-afternoon push. Although the initial plan was an eight-hour traverse, nearly 20 hours of continuous activity had taken their toll, prompting Jornet to moderate his pace. He ultimately completed this demanding segment in the early hours of the following morning, pushing his physical and mental limits.

On September 7th, Jornet allowed himself a 'rest' day, which involved cycling 87 kilometers from Twin Lakes, through Independence Pass, and towards Aspen, heading into the Elk range. By the conclusion of this day, he had summitted 13 fourteeners, covered a remarkable 570 kilometers, and dedicated almost 80 hours to his activity. His unwavering determination continues as he navigates some of Colorado's most formidable routes. Updates on his progress are released with a slight delay, adding to the anticipation surrounding this epic adventure.