Taipei 101 Skyscraper Climb: Rock Climber Alex Honnold Pushes Limits Without Ropes
In a daring feat, American rock climber Alex Honnold scaled the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper without any protective equipment or ropes on Sunday. The climb, which was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, drew both excitement and concern over its high-risk nature.
As Honnold ascended the tower's 508-meter (1,667-foot) spire, cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top after about 90 minutes. The climber, known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, employed small L-shaped outcroppings and ornamental structures as footholds to pull himself up with his bare hands.
The hardest part of the climb was reportedly the middle section, comprising 64 floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where Honnold took short rests. The building's signature "bamboo boxes" presented a unique challenge, divided into eight segments each with eight floors of intense climbing and then brief respite areas.
Honnold's free solo climb has raised questions about the ethics of attempting such high-risk endeavors on live broadcast. Although he is not the first climber to scale the skyscraper – French rock climber Alain Robert achieved this feat in 2004 as part of the building's grand opening – Honnold's decision to attempt it without ropes marks a significant departure from conventional climbing practices.
The climb itself was delayed by 24 hours due to rain, adding an extra layer of complexity to an already daunting task. Honnold's accomplishment has sparked both awe and concern among fans and critics alike, cementing his reputation as one of the world's most fearless rock climbers.
In a daring feat, American rock climber Alex Honnold scaled the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper without any protective equipment or ropes on Sunday. The climb, which was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, drew both excitement and concern over its high-risk nature.
As Honnold ascended the tower's 508-meter (1,667-foot) spire, cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top after about 90 minutes. The climber, known for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, employed small L-shaped outcroppings and ornamental structures as footholds to pull himself up with his bare hands.
The hardest part of the climb was reportedly the middle section, comprising 64 floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where Honnold took short rests. The building's signature "bamboo boxes" presented a unique challenge, divided into eight segments each with eight floors of intense climbing and then brief respite areas.
Honnold's free solo climb has raised questions about the ethics of attempting such high-risk endeavors on live broadcast. Although he is not the first climber to scale the skyscraper – French rock climber Alain Robert achieved this feat in 2004 as part of the building's grand opening – Honnold's decision to attempt it without ropes marks a significant departure from conventional climbing practices.
The climb itself was delayed by 24 hours due to rain, adding an extra layer of complexity to an already daunting task. Honnold's accomplishment has sparked both awe and concern among fans and critics alike, cementing his reputation as one of the world's most fearless rock climbers.
he's literally scaling a skyscraper with just his hands and feet lol! i'm both super impressed and kinda worried for him at the same time 
. i mean, that middle section of the climb looks insane - all those floors with no safety net? it's like watching an adventure movie in real life 
. what i find interesting is how it sparks conversations about risk vs reward & whether we can watch these stunts without worrying about people getting hurt 
. for me, alex honnold just solidifies his position as one of the world's most fearless climbers - and honestly? i'm kinda inspired by that 
The fact that he went for a ropeless climb on this massive skyscraper is just wild. I mean, the dude climbed El Capitan without ropes and now he's doing this?! It's like he's got some kind of superhuman endurance or something 
.
Oh man I'm still in shock!! Alex Honnold is literally a superhero 
, no ropes, no safety net, just pure adrenaline fuelled crazy! 
90 minutes to reach the top of Taipei 101?! That's insane! 
And you know what's even crazier? He did it live on Netflix with a 10-second delay 
. Can't imagine how nerve-wracking that must have been for him 
, but Alex Honnold makes it look easy 
. Bring on the next adventure... or maybe a nap 
! 
) and I have to say, it looked insane! He's got this calm demeanor but you can tell he's totally focused. The way he used those tiny footholds was like a puzzle, and I'm impressed by his problem-solving skills 
But at the same time, it's awesome that he's pushing boundaries and inspiring people to pursue their passions 
what if something went wrong? 
! The fact that he scaled it without ropes or any protective gear is just MIND-BLOWING 
! I mean, 90 minutes without any safety net? What if he fell? 
My son is super into climbing too and I would never let him do something like that without proper gear. Can you imagine the fear factor?! 
I'm just glad no one was hurt, but it's a huge risk for a live broadcast... what if something went wrong? 
i'm both amazed and terrified at the same time 
) to attempt something like this. what do you guys think? is he crazy for doing this or is it just incredible athleticism? 
And what about all the people watching from home who are just waiting for someone to mess up so they can swoon over how reckless it was? It's like we're all just sitting at home, clicking our thumbs, and waiting for a cliffhanger that never comes...literally. The delay is literally ruining the experience of living on edge. 
. Netflix should be getting so much credit for having the guts to broadcast this live without any editing 
but at the same time i have to respect his skills and bravery. it's just wild that people can be so fearless sometimes... anyway now i need a nap because watching him climb all those floors gave me whiplash 
! And broadcasting it live on Netflix? That's just asking for trouble 
. What if something went wrong during the broadcast? The 10-second delay was probably to mitigate some of that risk, but it still raises questions 
.
. And his willingness to push boundaries is what makes him so interesting to watch 
. Just hope he doesn't get himself killed next time 