Spanish professional long-distance trail runner and ski mountaineer Kílian Jornet is no stranger to ambitious goals in the mountains and when he queried his friends and social media followers what objective he should set in America the suggestions came flooding in. Instead of picking one, Kílian decided to do them all in what will be his most daunting project to date.
Beginning in September, Jornet will travel to Longs Peak in Colorado and find “the coolest way” to link all the 14,000 foot peaks in the lower 48 states without the use of motorized vehicles (by foot or by bike only).
Jornet is calling the project “States of Elevation” and will be updating his progress through his social channels along the way. We wish him luck in his pursuit and will be sure to cover his dispatches throughout.
How Many 14ers In The Lower 48?
The number 14,000-foot peaks in the lower 48 states is hotly debated depending on prominence thresholds or inclusion of subpeaks. Based on the most consistent mountaineering standards, there are 66 separate 14,000 foot peaks in the lower 48 states with at least 300 feet of prominence. Time will tell how Jornet interprets what is considered a 14er but no matter how he cuts the cake this will be an intense journey. Good luck!
