Summer calendar
Kilian Jornet presents his calendar for the summer of 2015. Unlike in previous years, he has decided not to take part in any specific competitive circuit and will race in Europe and in the United States this year.
However, before the start of the trail running season, Kilian Jornet will travel to the Himalayas for nearly seven weeks in connection with the Summits of My Life project. This will be his team’s first approach of the Everest challenge (8,848m), although Jornet explained: ‘We know we have a long way ahead of us. Preparation will be a key factor, but patience will also be needed to discover those great mountains. I think this will be a long-term project that we hope to complete in the coming years.’
So, in this first contact with the highest mountain in the world, the aim of Kilian will be to get to know and check the effects of altitude as well as to get familiar with the area and the planned route. A small team formed by Sébastien Montaz, Vivian Bruchez and Catalan mountaineers Jordi Corominas and Jordi Tosas will accompany Kilian. An unusual route on the north side has been selected for this project. As in previous Summits of My Life challenges, the expedition will start off from the last village and, from there, the goal is to reach the summit and return. Depending on weather conditions, the team will attempt the ascent either via Norton pass or Hornbein. There is no register of any previous record attempt for this particular route.
This is the first time that Kilian Jornet will be above 8,000m and he can’t see himself completing a rapid ascent on this first expedition: ‘I conceive this trip to Everest as a trip to learn. To really get to know the mountain and its surroundings and to learn from everything my colleagues can teach me. I don’t know when we will be able to attempt the challenge, and that will depend very much on the weather, acclimatization and conditions which we find there. I know that being prepared will be the key for future ascents, so I’m taking this first time as an opportunity to learn.’
Again, the way Kilian lives and feels the mountain will be the key to this expedition. A major challenge for a small team, all under the umbrella of mountain values: minimalism, friendship and learning.
The specific trail season will begin in July in Alaska, where Kilian is planning to participate in the Mount Marathon, a vertical race held on the United States’ National Day to reach the top of the mountain with the same name: ‘This is one of the oldest races in the world, as it has been held since 1905. Besides this fact, it is a rather technical race with many high-level athletes.’
A few days later, Kilian Jornet will take part in the Hardrock (160km, 20,700m D+) for the second year, which is changing route this year: ‘I fell in love with this race last year. The San Juan Mountains are a magical place and I also liked the atmosphere and the simplicity of a race on a technical and wild route.’
Upon returning from the USA, Jornet will travel to Norway, where he will spend a few weeks until the end of the Tromsö Skyrace, a race he is co-organizer of: ‘This race brings together all the things I like about this sport: technique, discovery, travel... However, this year I'll be on the other side of the barrier, helping out the organizers and encouraging the runners.’
Depending on how the season progresses, Jornet will consider racing the Sierre Zinal, a race he has always enjoyed. Jornet will travel to Norway again in mid August to run the Skaala vertical kilometre: ‘It's a race that goes from the sea to the summit. It’s a climb of 1,800m and great athletes compete in it.’ Finally, to end the season, Jornet will return to the Pyrenees, to contest the Ultra Pyrenees in late September: ‘Returning to the Ultra Pyrenees is like going back to my origins. I began long distance running by touring this route, around the shelters which the race passes by, before it even existed.’
Some very full months lie ahead, which will give the athlete the opportunity to enjoy mountain races around the globe once again.