Kilian Jornet, one of the most dominant trail runners in the world, has just completed the Tour de France of ultrarunning. Jornet shattered the record for summiting all 82 of the Alps’ 4,000-meter peaks, completing the challenge in just 19 days over 16 stages.
Jornet accomplished this feat using a mix of mountaineering, climbing, trail running, and cycling, ultimately relying solely on his own strength and endurance. He divided his journey into 16 stages, often covering up to 20 hours of travel in a day, with only four- to five-hour rest periods before continuing.
Over the course of 19 days, Jornet covered a staggering 750 miles (1,207 kilometers), achieved more than 267 hours of active time, and gained 75,344 meters in elevation.
“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,” Jornet said on his social media. “It’s difficult to process all my emotions just now, but this is a journey that I will never forget.”
Jornet’s accomplishment breaks the previous record set by Switzerland’s Ueli Steck in 2015, who completed the climbs in 62 days. Jornet managed to achieve this in less than a third of that time.
This isn’t the first time Jornet has broken records; he also holds the fastest times for ascending and descending both the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc.
Starting his journey in the Swiss Engadine valley, Jornet climbed Piz Bernina (4,048m), the easternmost of the Alps’ 4,000-meter peaks. His route took him through the Bernese Oberland and into the demanding Valais region.
Throughout the trek, Jornet says he carried minimal supplies, typically just one liter of water, which he often replenished at hostels. After each day’s climb, he met up with his support team for a meal that lasted about an hour and a half.
On one particularly unthinkable day, Jornet summited 16 new peaks over 4,000 meters, including Mont Blanc (4,808m) and the Grandes Jorasses (4,208m) in the Mont Blanc massif.
The challenge, known as the “Alpine Connections Project,” concluded with the ascents of Dôme (4,015m) and Barre des Écrins (4,102m), the latter requiring a run across a glacier.
Jornet reached the final base just before midnight on September 1, celebrating with his team over pizza before heading home.
“Now, it’s time for a well-deserved rest!” Jornet said as he concluded his journey.
