In a breathtaking feat that will push the boundaries of urban climbing, world-renowned free soloist Alex Honnold is set to scale Taiwan's iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or safety gear next month. The live broadcast of this high-stakes ascent promises to be a global spectacle.
The Ultimate Urban Challenge: Scaling 1,700 Feet Rope-Free
Alex Honnold, the American climber immortalized in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, has announced his most ambitious urban climb to date. On January 23, he will attempt a free solo ascent of Taipei 101, a towering structure that stands at 508 metres (1,667 feet). Honnold described it as a "long-time goal" in a social media post, enthusiastically adding, "It's a nearly 1,700 ft tower! What's not to like?!"
For viewers in India, the event, titled "Skyscraper Live," will be aired on January 24 at 6:30 AM IST on Netflix. The global live stream is scheduled for January 23 at 8 PM Eastern Time / 5 PM Pacific Time. This marks a significant moment for adventure sports broadcasting, bringing a real-time, high-risk climb to a mainstream streaming platform.
Taipei 101: From World's Tallest to Honnold's Canvas
When it was completed in 2004, Taipei 101 held the title of the world's tallest building. While it is now ranked as the 11th-tallest globally, it remains the tallest building in Taiwan. This climb represents a major shift for Honnold, whose three-decade career has been primarily on natural rock faces. According to Focus Taiwan, this will be the first major man-made structure he has free-soloed.
Honnold has acknowledged that climbing a skyscraper is "a little different" from his usual exploits. The technique involves more repetitive movements, making it technically less tricky but physically more demanding than many natural rock climbs. The preparation has been visible for months, with Taiwanese social media buzzing with videos of Honnold practicing on the building, waving from the observatory, and even ascending the spire.
The Crucial Challenge: Navigating the "Bamboo Boxes"
The climber has identified the most daunting section of the route: the so-called "bamboo boxes." This part consists of eight segments that make up 64 floors in the building's midsection, each featuring an overhang. Honnold explained that each segment has an overhang of 10 to 15 degrees, with a balcony every eight floors.
This architecture creates a unique physical test. As Honnold described, it requires a climber to exert "quite a hard effort for around 100 feet" and then reach a brief respite at a balcony, a cycle that repeats multiple times throughout the climb. Managing endurance and precision through this section will be critical to his success.
When asked about his aspirations for the climb, Honnold's goal was characteristically grounded. He said it was similar to his objectives for trail running events: to "not injure myself and comport myself with dignity." This understated statement belies the extreme risk involved in a free solo climb of this magnitude, where a single slip would be fatal.
The world will be watching as Honnold attempts this historic urban ascent, a testament to human focus and physical prowess, broadcast live into homes across India and the globe.
