(Reuters) – Ultra-trail runner Kilian Jornet has successfully linked 82 of the Alps’ 4,000-metre peaks across Switzerland, France, and Italy in 19 days, by running, mountaineering, climbing, and cycling, in the latest of his remarkable sporting achievements.
The 36-year-old Spaniard traversed 1,207 km and gained a total elevation of 75,344m. The project, “Alpine Connections”, was divided into 16 stages over 19 days, which included a day of rest.
The stages averaged 17 hours, primarily involving running, climbing, or scrambling on foot, with the remainder spent cycling to link the various mountain ranges (87% on foot and 13% by bike).
Jornet eclipsed the previous record set by Ueli Steck of Switzerland who climbed the 82 peaks in 62 days in 2015, according to the Fastest Known Time website.
Jornet started in Switzerland on Aug. 13 with climbs of Piz Bernina (4,049 m) and Weissmies (4,017 m). He linked technical peaks in the Valais region, including Weisshorn (4,506 m) and Dom des Mischabels (4,545 m).
The last stages took place in Italy and France. The Mont Blanc massif was the longest and most demanding where Jornet summited some of the highest peaks, Mont Blanc (4,808 m) and the Grandes Jorasses (4,208 m).
The Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy was linked by a lengthy bike stage to Parc National des Ecrins in France where he climbed Dome de Neige des Ecrins (4,015 m) and Barre des Ecrins (4,102 m).
He averaged 16 hours of activity with about five hours of sleep. A small support team handled logistics for food, equipment, and content creation in a project that took over six months to plan.
“This project has been incredible; I think it’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, both physically and technically, as well as mentally,” Jornet said in a statement.
“Having to stay in a state of total concentration for 20 days requires a lot of energy, but it has been amazing. I remember all the sunrises and sunsets and all the friends who accompanied me in the mountains.
“I am very happy and proud of what we have achieved in the last three weeks. Now it’s time to rest and process everything that has happened, because I think it will take me some time to fully appreciate it.”
Jornet also holds the record for the fastest ascent and descent of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc and has won a host of long distance trail running races, including the prestigious double of the Western States 100 mile event and Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc.
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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