American rock climber Alex Honnold has achieved another extraordinary feat by scaling Taiwan's tallest building, the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper, without any ropes or protective equipment. The daring ascent took just 90 minutes, with crowds gathering at street level to witness the historic climb.
A Thrilling Ascent to the Top
Honnold, renowned for his ropeless climb of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, tackled the 1,667-foot tower using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Wearing a distinctive red short-sleeve shirt, he periodically manoeuvred around large ornamental structures that protrude from the building, pulling himself up with bare hands.
Upon reaching the summit, Honnold waved his arms triumphantly and exclaimed, 'It was like what a view, it's incredible, what a beautiful day.' He added, 'It was very windy, so I was like, don't fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.'
Challenges of the Climb
The building features 101 floors, with the most demanding section being the 64 floors in the middle – known as the 'bamboo boxes' that give Taipei 101 its signature appearance. This segment is divided into eight parts, each comprising eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies where Honnold took brief rests during his upward journey.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the climb was postponed by 24 hours due to adverse weather conditions, highlighting the precision required for such a hazardous endeavour.
Live Broadcast and Crowd Reaction
Honnold's free solo climb was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, allowing global audiences to watch the nerve-wracking event unfold in real-time. The presence of a cheering crowd was an unusual experience for the climber, who typically undertakes ascents in remote, isolated locations.
'When I was leaving the ground, you're like 'oh it's kind of intense, there's so many people watching',' Honnold remarked. 'But then, honestly, they're all wishing me well. I mean, basically, it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.'
Historical Context
While Honnold is not the first individual to climb Taipei 101, he is the pioneer to accomplish this without any ropes or safety gear. French rock climber Alain Robert previously scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening celebrations when it held the title of the world's tallest building.
This latest achievement further cements Honnold's reputation as one of the most audacious and skilled climbers in the world, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible in extreme sports.
