Rock Climber's Thrilling Taipei 101 Solo Ascent Leaves Crowd Awestruck
American rock climber Alex Honnold made history on Sunday by ascending the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without any ropes or protective gear. The daring feat, broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, drew both excitement and concern over its high-risk nature.
Honnold's free solo climb of the tower was made possible by small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds and ornamental structures that jutted out from the building, allowing him to pull himself up with his bare hands. The most challenging part of the ascent came in the middle section, also known as the "bamboo boxes," where he had to navigate steep overhanging climbing and short rests on balconies.
A crowd of cheering onlookers watched Honnold's ascent, which was delayed for 24 hours due to rain. While some were thrilled by the spectacle, others expressed concerns about the ethics of attempting such a high-risk endeavor live on broadcast.
Honnold, known for his ropeless ascents up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, has faced criticism in the past for pushing the limits of safety. However, he maintained that the experience was "incredible" and that he was able to balance and maneuver around obstacles with ease.
The Taiwanese authorities did not issue any formal warnings or statements about Honnold's climb, but local residents were visibly worried as they watched him ascend higher up the building. In response to criticism, Honnold explained that a cheering crowd was unusual for him, but it actually made the experience feel more festive and supportive.
Honnold isn't the first climber to scale Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert accomplished this feat in 2004 as part of the building's grand opening.
American rock climber Alex Honnold made history on Sunday by ascending the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without any ropes or protective gear. The daring feat, broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay, drew both excitement and concern over its high-risk nature.
Honnold's free solo climb of the tower was made possible by small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds and ornamental structures that jutted out from the building, allowing him to pull himself up with his bare hands. The most challenging part of the ascent came in the middle section, also known as the "bamboo boxes," where he had to navigate steep overhanging climbing and short rests on balconies.
A crowd of cheering onlookers watched Honnold's ascent, which was delayed for 24 hours due to rain. While some were thrilled by the spectacle, others expressed concerns about the ethics of attempting such a high-risk endeavor live on broadcast.
Honnold, known for his ropeless ascents up Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, has faced criticism in the past for pushing the limits of safety. However, he maintained that the experience was "incredible" and that he was able to balance and maneuver around obstacles with ease.
The Taiwanese authorities did not issue any formal warnings or statements about Honnold's climb, but local residents were visibly worried as they watched him ascend higher up the building. In response to criticism, Honnold explained that a cheering crowd was unusual for him, but it actually made the experience feel more festive and supportive.
Honnold isn't the first climber to scale Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert accomplished this feat in 2004 as part of the building's grand opening.
I mean, can you imagine pulling yourself up with just your bare hands on a giant skyscraper? It's like something out of a movie. The crowd watching him go live on Netflix must have been super hyped, I'm sure it felt more festive than normal for him.
. i mean, sure, the climb was insane, but theres a diff between riskin ur life and bein reckless. hes studied every route, timed every move, n all dat stuff, so like, yeah, he's prepared 
. ppl r worried bout the crowd, lol, its not like hes out there by himself 
. anot her thing, alex just lives in the moment, n that's what makes his climbs so iconic 
I mean, I'm all for pushing limits and trying new things, but that was straight up crazy!! Alex Honnold is like a superhero or something! 
I get why some people are worried about the ethics of it all, but at the same time, it's kinda cool that he could just go for it like that. The crowd going wild must've added an extra level of excitement to the whole thing, right? 
It's awesome that he knows his stuff and can handle himself under pressure, but I'm glad no one got hurt! 
he must've been totally focused and calm to pull off this stunt. i mean, can you even imagine being up that high with nothing but air between you and the ground below? 
he's a pro and he made it look effortless. i think it's kinda cool that he got a cheering crowd tho - it added to the whole experience 
... I mean, have you seen the footage? It was like they knew it was gonna be a big production 
... and all of a sudden, the rain starts pouring down 24 hours before the actual climb, just to give them an excuse to delay it 
. And what about those bamboo boxes in the middle section? That looked too easy 
... I bet they were hiding something under there 
.
... he's always pushing the limits, but at what cost? 
Those risks are just too high for my liking 
. And those Taiwanese authorities, they just sat back and did nothing 
... like they were in on it or something 
.
. And what about the footage itself? A 10-second delay? That's just too convenient 
... like they were hiding something in there 
.
to see if he pulls off another stunt like this 
but you gotta admit, it was kinda awesome seeing him just go for it without any ropes or safety gear 
plus, can you imagine the views from up there? 
And yeah, I can see how it might be concerning for those who value safety above all else 
. On the other hand, Honnold seems like a pro and his comments after the fact were pretty level-headed. Still, as someone who loves layout and structure 
, I have to wonder... what if there were more conventional routes or safer options available? 
and navigating overhanging sections is like a dream come true for climbers like him 
the 10-second delay on the live stream was a good idea, btw - it's one thing to watch someone risk life and limb, but it's another to see the whole thing in real-time