Kilian Jornet Foundation’s States of Elevation Project Features C4
Published September 2025 by the Kilian Jornet Foundation
In fall 2025, Kilian Jornet is attempting to link 14,000-foot peaks across the United States, exploring both the diverse American mountain geography and the cultural perspectives surrounding these mountains. Fully human-powered, Kilian will travel by foot and bike only; supported in villages and along roads, but carrying all essentials through each mountain section.
But his journey is not only about performance, it is a chance to build an environmental movement across states and continents. Throughout this journey, the Kilian Jornet Foundation aims to connect with communities, elevate local voices, share global lessons, and drive action to create positive impact.
“I’m here to understand the challenges these mountains face, by listening and connecting with the community–and to share the solutions that are already taking shape. Let’s discover the stories behind the miles.” -Kilian Jornet
Photo: @nickmdanielson
“While pushing through the landscapes of the U.S. by foot and bike, I reflect on what resilience means to me, not only as an athlete but also as a human being part of this world. For many years, resilience meant maintaining focus and balance when everything else felt unpredictable, it was about adapting to unexpected challenges while running.”
—Kilian Jornet; Colorado, September 2025
In the U.S., we are learning about a new scope of resilience: the way ecosystems and communities recover from polluted land or wildfires. Like in sport, it’s not just about endurance, but adaptability. Here, resilience means communities like Leadville turning polluted land into thriving farms that feed their neighbors or fire ecologists working with Indigenous knowledge to restore balance with fire.
THE STORIES BEHIND THE MILES
Along the route, we passed through a small town called Leadville. At first sight, it does not look like a special place, however, it is the highest incorporated city in the U.S., at 10,151 feet (3,084 m). Here, we meet Emily Olsen, Executive Director of Cloud City Conservation Center. Up here, mountains set the rhythm of life. The air is thin, winters can last many months, and the traces of mining still run through the soil.
DISCOVERING LEADVILLE
Leadville was once the richest city in the U.S., during the 1880s Silver and Gold boom, but when it ended, what remained was a community facing abandoned mines, polluted land and a struggling local economy. That is why resilience has become a way of life here.
At Cloud City Conservation Center, Emily and her community work to confront the legacies of pollution and economic decline, turning these challenges into opportunities for environmental restoration, economic recovery, and a healthier, more sustainable future.
HOW CAN RESILIENCE HELP COMMUNITIES?
Resilience is the ability to withstand disruption and still move forward, not just surviving, but adapting and thriving. In nature, resilience means forests regenerate after wildfire, rivers cleanse themselves after floods, and soils regain fertility. In communities, resilience means people find ways to support each other, create new systems of food and energy, and adapt to shifting conditions.
At Cloud City Conservation Center, Emily and her team are turning the challenges they face into opportunities for community resilience. Their project, Cloud City Farm, is the highest farm in North America. Because water rights were sold, contaminated soil and land costs increased, local farming had become nearly impossible. Through Cloud City Farm, over 25% of their community is now engaged in building a resilient local food system. Residents grow, share, and access fresh produce, creating both a social and ecological safety network.
“Communities hold the power to build a healthier future for people and our planet. Climate action intersects with every issue we face and our solutions can and should be intersectional.”
