….No ropes. No safety net. Just nerve
Citypost News Desk
In a jaw-dropping feat that fused extreme sport with live television spectacle, American climber Alex Honnold on Sunday completed a historic, rope-free ascent of Taipei 101, scaling the 1,667-foot skyscraper without any safety equipment as millions watched worldwide on Netflix’s Skyscraper Live.
Honnold, 40, reached the summit of the 101-story tower in 1 hour and 31 minutes, setting a new benchmark for urban free solo climbing and becoming the first person to conquer the iconic building in true ropeless style. The climb, executed under clear skies after a one-day weather delay, held viewers spellbound as the climber methodically worked his way up steel beams, ledges and sections of glass high above the streets of Taipei.
The ascent marked a striking evolution for Honnold, who rose to global fame in 2017 after free-soloing Yosemite’s El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall, an achievement immortalized in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. Taipei 101, however, presented a radically different challenge; an engineered colossus of metal and glass, designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, and once the tallest building in the world.
Honnold had studied the tower for years. Ahead of the live event, he conducted a roped test climb to map the route and assess risks, ultimately opting for custom climbing shoes suited to urban surfaces and carrying only a chalk bag. Throughout the ascent, he remained characteristically calm, pausing on balconies to rest, wave to spectators and remark on the view: “What a beautiful day.”
The event was not without controversy. Critics in Taiwan questioned the wisdom of staging such a high-risk stunt on a national landmark, while organizers defended it as a meticulously planned demonstration of human capability. Netflix implemented a brief broadcast delay as a precaution, underscoring the tension surrounding the live climb.
That tension peaked as Honnold navigated the tower’s upper spire. At 10:43 a.m. local time, he pulled himself onto the summit, raised his arms in triumph and smiled. “Sick,” he said simply.
Cheers erupted from crowds below and from inside the building, where his wife, Sanni McCandless, watched anxiously before embracing him near the top. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te later praised the ascent as “truly nerve-wracking” and congratulated Honnold on the achievement.
Online, reactions ranged from awe to unease. Social media buzzed with clips of Honnold’s unflappable demeanor, while climbing purists debated the spectacle’s showmanship. Despite mixed reviews of the broadcast’s high-octane commentary, Skyscraper Live succeeded in bringing free solo climbing to a mass audience.
Speaking afterward, Honnold described the climb as “amazing” and “so fun,” adding that the greatest challenge was staying mentally composed amid the attention.
With Taipei 101 now added to his list of conquered giants, Honnold’s latest ascent further cements his legacy proof that even the world’s most formidable skyscrapers can be humbled by precision, preparation and unwavering resolve.
