It all started because Kevin Reilly needed something to do. He read about the feats of endurance athletes and researched difficult mountain links that combine multiple peaks in epic hiking feats. And he decided to pursue one of his own.

Just 2 years after he and his wife moved to Colorado from Massachusetts, Reilly was in a lot of pain. In 2023, he was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, forcing him to take a break from his longtime career as an electrician.

He felt intense pain if he tried to work, but it also hurt if he sat too long. Reilly needed a project, so he started looking at Colorado’s biggest mountains and dreaming of something that would push him to his limits. Although he had hiked only two of the state’s 14 (a local name for mountains over 14,000 feet), Reilly felt drawn to the majesty of the Rocky Mountains.

So he came up with a link between Mount La Plata, Mount Massive and Mount Elbert, three of the highest mountains in the state. With over 14,000 feet of elevation gain over nearly 31 miles, he realized his pet project could be a worthy addition to Colorado’s endless supply of outdoor challenges.

After months of intense training and planning, the 35-year-old set out on September 14 and smashed the link in less than 24 hours. Only later did he talk to Fastest time known. It turned out that he “accidentally” recorded the feat enough to be included in the record keeping organization.

So say hello to Cloud City Highline. It might sound daunting, but Reilly is sure of one thing: “If an asthmatic ex-smoker with arthritis can do it, what’s your excuse?”

Kevin Reilly: Planning, training for pain and gain

When Reilly began planning the logistics of his 14-link, he told GearJunkie that he had very little experience with high mountains—or endurance sports in general.

Before he began daily workouts that would last several months, the longest race he completed was a 5K. His 2023 diagnosis came shortly after he climbed his first 14: Mount Bierstadt and Mount Huron, the latter his first solo ascent of a Colorado peak. But as Reilly fell in love with hiking in the mountains, he also had to face the realities of his arthritis and its impact on his life.

“It was a really humbling thing at the age of 33 to ask the guys to move a ladder for me,” Reilly said. “I didn’t do well.”

Eventually, Reilly said he had to take a break from his job as an electrician with the support of his wife, Alayna. He had to pursue something different – find a new project. So he began researching Colorado’s toughest mountain hikes, looking for a goal that was intense but achievable.

He considered known links as well as popular ones Decalibron Loopwhich includes the tops of four 14s along its 7-mile course. But with only 3,700 feet of elevation gain, that still seemed too easy for Reilly.

Reilly said he was looking for something that didn’t have a lot of records attached.

“I just wanted something with no competition. I know what competition can bring out of me and it’s not always great,” he said. “This was born out of a desire to push myself, not to go up against other people. These specific mountains allowed me to do that.”

Specific mountains—La Plata, Mount Massive, and Elbert—are three peaks that dominate Colorado’s Sawatch Range. He designed a route that would follow all three mountains, involving 14,414 feet of vertical gain. He didn’t know if he could pull it off in less than 24 hours the way he wanted, so Reilly started training hard.

In the months leading up to his Sept. 14 attempt, he walked, ran or hiked more than 1,200 miles. In 2023, he ran his first half marathon. Then, he completed a full marathon. When September finally arrived, it was time to see if all that training had paid off.

FKT “Cloud City Highline”: 19 hours, 53 minutes and 5 seconds

Reilly’s wife woke him up at midnight on the “morning” of Sept. 14 and drove him to the base of La Plata Mountain from their home in Superior, Colo. By 2:15 Reilly was on the trail. There were no signs of life anywhere in the darkness.

“It was pretty scary,” he said. “No matter how you do that, there’s still a snot-man on the other side of the trees.”

Then he emerged from the tree line, greeted by a warm breeze and a bright Milky Way overhead. Feeling happy to have the mountain to himself, Reilly “climbed” La Plata in black and quickly descended the back.

At this point, his wife took him for a short 3-mile walk to the Mount Elbert trailhead. Reilly used a car for this short portion of the trip because of concerns about the lack of tracks, sidewalks, and streetlights. He acknowledges, however, that another hiker may choose to take the risk.

Once he reached the end of the Mount Elbert trail, he began navigating the south side – his favorite part of the link. The state’s tallest mountain, Elbert’s main course is forgiving, with a gentle slope that stretches across a wide, open plain under an “otherworldly” sky, Reilly said.

After reaching the top, he descended the north side, eventually reaching his first tent and supply depot. It was much needed as he ran out of water miles earlier.

From there, it followed the Colorado Trail to the Mount Massive trailhead. It was there that Reilly began to feel his body’s revenge. After 12 hours, he had already covered 20 miles with about 10,000 feet of elevation change.

His joints were “on fire” from the exertion. So Reilly said he got his Brooks Cascadia runners and spent a few minutes freezing his feet in Half Moon Creek. He smeared some Dawn dish soap on his blistered legs as a lubricant, which he called “an old family trick,” and put on some knee braces.

“The third was a really tough one,” he said. “I had a hard time downing my water or eating.”

When he reached the mountain saddle, Reilly had a hard time enjoying the panoramic view of the Continental Divide. He “voted all over” as soon as he took off Nathan 12L Running Pack. That “wasn’t a good sign,” he said, but he knew he only needed an hour to reach the final summit.

When he finally got to it, he had the top of it. He broke down in tears as he texted his wife and mother to let them know he was safe.

He had taken it out. His Garmin Enduro 2 the clock recorded a time of 19 hours, 53 minutes and 5 seconds.

“Cap of Everything”

The next morning “was pretty cool,” Reilly said, the wheels already turning in his head, “about the next thing.” He had achieved exactly what he wanted, which was to find his limit.

“I walked away from this feeling like I was absolutely capable of doing anything I wanted,” Reilly said.

He said he would like to find a way to “do this all the time.” But with winter set to bring the hiking season to a close, he jumped on Indeed last month to start looking for work.

This time, however, he doesn’t even consider jobs that would bring more pain to his arthritic hands. And he may have found something: teaching special education at a local public school.

“I’m really excited to try something new,” he said. “There’s very little we’re not capable of.”

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