Kilian Jornet has climbed all eighty-two peaks of 4,000 metres or higher in the European Alps in the space of just nineteen days.
Jornet completed the link-up, which he has named 'Alpine Connections' entirely under his own power, using a bicycle to travel between the peaks rather than vehicles.
The numbers behind the achievement are staggering, with Jornet having covered 1,207 kilometres across almost 268 hours of effort, and gained 247,191 feet (75,344 metres) in elevation.
The previous record for climbing the 4,000 metre peaks of the Alps in a single push was set by the late Ueli Steck in 2015, who summitted all 82 peaks over the course of 62 days. Steck, like Jornet, did this solely using his own power, without motorised travel. Whilst Steck sometimes descended peaks by paraglider, Jornet remained on foot, or bike, throughout.
Jornet was accompanied on many of his summits by friends, but also ascended many solo, whilst also having a team with him who supported him with the logistics of the link-up.
Because Jornet sometimes ran, climbed, or cycled deep into the night, he broke the challenge down into 16 stages, rather than 19 days.
Stage 1: Bernina
Jornet climbed the easternmost 4,000 metre peak in the Alps, Piz Bernina (4048m). He ran and climbed 29km, with 2573 metres of elevation. He then cycled more than 210km with almost 4,000 metres of elevation to reach the next stage.
'After dreaming about this project for a while, it feels so exciting to be on the move!'
Stage 2: Oberland I
Jornet summitted Lauteraarhorn (4042m), Schreckhorn (4078m), and Finsteraarhorn (4274m), bringing his overall 4,000 metre peak tally to 4.
'Overall it was not an easy stage with challenging weather. Fortunately, I was able to shelter in a hut and get a few hours of sleep before continuing. Four 4000m peaks are now done. Looking forward to the next!'
Stage 3: Oberland II
Leaving from the Finsteraarhorn hut, Jornet traversed six 4,000 metre peaks, travelling 99 kilometres with 7,890 metres of elevation gain. He achieved this across a single 32 hour and 30 minute push.
He then descended Aletschhorn, napped for 15 minutes, and cycled for 40 kilometres to the next part of the link-up.
'I had to be really careful since the conditions weren't always on my side. I even had to change my route to Aletschhorn three times—once because of the rain and twice due to tricky glacier conditions... It was a hard day, but that's part of what makes these mountains so special—they keep you on your toes and make you appreciate every step'.
Stage 4: Weissmies
Setting off at 3:30 in the morning, Jornet summitted Lagginhorn (4010m) and Weissmies (4017m) across an 8 hour push, covering 30 kilometres with 3,381 metres of elevation. He ended the day with a short bike ride. He was now on 12 peaks above 4,000 metres.
'In these moments, I feel so grateful to be surrounded by a team helping me with all the logistics of the project, and experienced friends I can count on for long outings above 4000 meters in not-so perfect weather... Time to recharge the batteries, literally and figuratively!'
Stage 5: Valais I
A "short" day of climbing for Jornet, just 8:40. He climbed Dürrenhorn (4034m), Hohberghorn (4218m), Stecknadelhorn (4239m) and Nadelhorn (4327m), totalling 23 kilometres and 3,246 metres of elevation gain.
'Stage 5 is done, the weather is getting better and I can't wait to see what I can do in the coming days!'
Stage 6: Valais II
Jornet climbed the peaks of Lenzspitze (4294m), Dom (4545m), Täschhorn (4491m), Alphubel (4206m), Allalinhorn (4027m), Rimpfischhorn (4199m), and Stalhhorn (4190m), before finishing the day at the Monte Rosa hut.
The stage took Jornet 21 hours, during which he covered 48 kilometres, and added more than 6,000 metres of elevation to the tally.
'It felt great to see the sun, be in good company, and to add a big day in the mountains to the adventure after dealing with uncertain weather for a bit... If all goes according to the plan, the next stage should be an interesting one!'
Stage 7: Valais III
After 3 hours rest at the hut, Jornet left for one of the biggest days of the project, targeting an unbelievable 18 4,000 metres summits in a single day - a traverse known as 'The Spaghetti Tour'. The traverse took him across Nordend, Dufourspitze, Zumsteinspitze, Signalkuppe, Pointe Parrot, Ludswighöhe, Corno Nero, Pyramide Vincent, Punta Giordani, Lyskamm E, Lyskamm W, Castor, Pollux, Roccia Nera, Breithorn (pointe 4106), Breithorn E, Breithorn central, and Breithorn W.
Jornet finished the stage in 17:45, having covered 46.5 kilometres, and gained 4,907 metres of elevation, all on just three hours of sleep. At this point, he was averaging just 4:49 sleep per night.
In a single day, Jornet had taken his total tally of 4,000 metre peaks from 23 to 41.
'The weather was good during the day but the warm and soft snow conditions made me slower than I had originally thought, which in turn made me struggle with the proper water and food intake. The smoke from the North American fires was clearly visible up in the sky and made for a strange atmosphere at times. Fortunately the super moon made for good visibility at night, and I managed to finish the stage in 17:45, ending up at the Hörnlihütte at around 1 in the morning for a feast of eggs, soup, quinoa, tortilla, broccoli, peas and cake before crashing down'.
Just to bring him back down to earth during his 18 peak day, Jornet also received a call telling him his car was at risk of being towed.
Stage 8: Valais IV
Jornet had the Matterhorn (4478m) on the breakfast menu, a peak that he had sumitted twice before. He then added Dent d'Hérens (4173m) and Dent Blanche (4358m), having covered almost 31km over 18 hours and 8 minutes, with over 4,100 metres of elevation gain.
'We were treated by a beautiful sunrise as I departed around 7 in the morning... Another long day of more than 18 hours is in the bag and 3 more peaks were climbed today. That brings the total to 44 since the beginning of the Alpine Connections project.'
Stage 9: Valais V
Jornet's final Valais day, a section he ended with ascents of Ober Gabelhorn (4064m), Zinalrothorn (4221m), Weisshorn (4506m), and Bishorn (4151m), in an 18:31 push. He ended the day by meeting his mum, who was waiting for him in Zinal. At the end of Stage 9, Jornet had been climbing for an average of 19 hours a day for four days in a row.
'Maybe the most special stage of the project for me... in a very wild region that requires a lot of decision making and navigation difficulties. During the climb, I was lucky to see a Brocken Spectre, a beautiful reflection phenomenon'.
'Catching the sunset on Weisshorn, a big, technical and demanding climb but also one of the most aesthetic mountains of the Alps in my opinion, was really special to me and maybe one of the best moments of my life. The tiredness was gone and I was just feeling perfectly in the moment'.
Stage 10: Grand Combin Traverse
Kicking off the day with a 110 kilometre bike ride to Bourg Saint-Pierre, Jornet still had the time to summit Combin de Valsorey, Grand Combin, and Combin de la Tsessette, arriving back at Bourg Saint-Pierre at 2:30 in the morning.
'Grand Combins was actually more technical than I expected. It was a very nice climb, but it's a dangerous mountain because there's a lot of rockfall and it's not always easy to navigate, so I was glad not to be solo'.
Stage 11: Transition
An 'easy' day - according to Jornet. The day started with a 30km ride from Bourg Saint-Pierre to La Fouly, before running a casual 15km to Val Ferret. Despite covering 45 kilometres and gaining more than 1,500 metres of elevation, Jornet described this as a 'full rest day'.
By this point, Jornet's average sleep time had dropped to just 4 hours and 20 minutes per night.
'I tried to eat, drink a lot, heal the skin my hands and feet and prepare for the next long and technical push of the Alpine Connections project'.
Stage 12: Grandes Jorasses
Jornet took on the Grandes Jorasses Ridge, comprising Pointe Walker, Pointe Whymper, Pointe Croz, Pointe Elena, and Pointe Margherita, before finishing off with Dôme de Rochefort, Aiguille de Rochefort and Dent du Géant, for a total of 8 summits of 4,000 metres in a day.
After stopping for a break at Rifugio Torino, he then continued on alone to Refuge du Couvercle, where he would begin Stage 13 the following morning.
The day took Jornet 18 hours and 22 minutes, during which he covered 28 kilometres, and gained 4,200 metres of elevation.
'Even though it was the middle of the night, everyone was super happy to be here and to kick off the day in good company!
Matheo Jacquemoud, Michel Lanne, and Bastien Lardat all know the area well and I was glad to have them for the more technical climbs of the day, as the conditions can get a bit tricky in this part of the Alps.'
Stage 13: Mont Blanc I
Jornet kicked off the day at 4am, leaving Refuge du Couvercle, and summitting Aguille Verte, Grande Rocheuse, Aguille du Jardin, and Les Droites across 17 hours.
Jornet's total figures at this point stood at 877 kilometres covered, 63 peaks of 4,000 metres or more, more than 214 hours on foot or bike, almost 60,000 metres of elevation gained, and an average of just 4 hours 46 minutes of sleep per night.
'I was glad to join the team, friends and family at Rifugio Torino to debrief such a big day and start planning the rest of the adventure'.
Stage 14: Mont Blanc II
A huge day. Jornet started at 4:45, climbing Corne du Diable, Pointe Chaubert, Pointe Médiane, Pointe Carmen and L'Isolée. He then pushed on to the summits of Mont Blanc du Tacul, Mont Maudit, Mont Blanc, Dôme du Goûter and Aiguille de Bionassay.
He then re-summitted Mont Blanc, in order to head down the Brouillard Ridge, thus taking in the peaks of Monte Bianco de Courmayeur, Picco Luigi Amadeo, Mont Brouillard and Punta Baretti. These fourteen peaks took him twenty hours.
Jornet then rested for four hours whilst waiting for better conditions, before taking on the technical climbing of Grand Pilier d'Angle and Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey.
16 peaks in total, 41 kilometres covered, 29.5 hours on foot, almost 5,000 metres gained.
'The Diable Ridge [was] one of the most beautiful rock climbs I've ever done, both very technical and aesthetic... [Climbing the Brouillard Ridge] with an amazing sunset [was] a moment that I will remember forever'.
© @KilianJornet
Stage 15: Gran Paradiso
The day started off with a 55km bike ride, after which he climbed his 80th peak of the trip, Gran Paradiso, in just 3:51 minutes. He then ran 21 kilometres with 1,250m of elevation, crossing back into France and resting in Val d'Isère, preparing for the final section of the expedition by rewarding himself with a lofty seven hours of sleep.
It was during this day that Jornet brought his overall distance tally to over 1,000km.
'definitely less technical than the sections I encountered in the Mont Blanc massif in the last stages, which allowed for a quick ascent and descent'.
© @KilianJornet
Stage 16: Écrins
Jornet's final day of the mission. He kicked it off with a bike ride of 172 kilometres, with almost 4,000 metres of elevation, an effort that took almost 8 hours.
Thereafter, he had only two peaks to summit. Dôme, and Barre des Écrins. He linked them together during a 6 hour push, covering 24.5 kilometres, and climbing just over 2,250 metres.
'19 days after getting started on Piz Bernina, my dream of climbing all 82 4000 meter peaks of the Alps using only human power to link them together came true on Dôme and Barre des Écrins, the westernmost of them all'.
'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. It's difficult to process all my emotions just now, but this is a journey that I will never forget. I want to thank again all the people who supported me or climbed with me throughout this project. It's time to rest for a bit now!'
His final stats for the overall link-up were as follows:
82 Peaks of 4,000 metres or higher in 19 Days - using only human power to link them together.
Distance covered: 1,207 kilometres.
Active time: 267 hours 45 minutes.
Elevation gain: 75, 344 metres
Average hours of sleep: 5 hours 17 minutes.
Here's a short video of Jornet, filmed after he finished Alpine Connections:
Comments
yeh, good effort.
Super impressive by Kilian, but slight correction as the previous record was held by Chrigel Maurer and Peter von Känel, who earlier this season did it in 51 days. They used paragliders to travel and were unsupported.
Wow! Congratulations!
That was also an amazing achievement, but significantly different to either Kilian's or Uli's, as my understanding is they used paragliders to fly between mountains when they could and also as a means of ascent as well as descent.
Hang on, wtf. So he went from the Torino, across the dent de geant and the grand jorasses, presumably descended the hirondelle and went to the couvercle. He THEN did aiguille vert etc dropped down to the mer de glace and then reascended back to the Torino?! Is that right? I am astounded.