Kilian Jornet Gears Up for Aconcagua Record
The mountain runner is in Argentina to make his FKT attempt
Mountain runner Kilian Jornet wrapped up a five-city film tour in Mendoza, Argentina, on Monday, then started planning his ascent of Aconcagua, the tallest non-Himalayan mountain in the world at 22,837 feet, reports the Adventure Blog. Jornet’s goal is to beat the current, though disputed, record of 15 hours, 5 minutes.
Jornet, 27, began the Summits of My Life project, a quest for speed ascent and descent FKTs (fastest known times) across the world’s Seven Summits, in 2012, when he ski-traversed the eight summits of the massif of Mont Blanc in 8 hours, 42 minutes. Jornet has since run up Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Mount McKinley. He plans to end the project next year by running up Mount Everest.
Aconcagua’s “normal” route is not considered technical—it doesn’t require crampons and ropes like other mountaineering projects—but the altitude will make the run difficult. Jornet will spend time training on the mountain to acclimate, then wait for a good weather window to begin his minimal-gear climb.
