In a daring feat that has left fans abuzz, renowned rock climber Alex Honnold ascended Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers, without the aid of a rope. Sunday morning saw the climber, who stood at the top of the 1,667-foot structure with an expansive view of the city, exclaiming "Sick" as he basked in the panoramic vista.
However, what seemed like an effortless ascent belied the physical toll it took on Honnold. Describing the climb as "very physical" and admitting to being tired, the 40-year-old California native hinted at the grueling nature of his endeavor.
When Honnold began his descent, he donned a harness for the first time during the climb and rappelled down to a staging area where his wife waited. Despite an hour and a half into the climb, Honnold had still not yet tackled the final sections of Taipei 101 – a testament to his training and preparation.
Honnold's free climb was initially scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to weather conditions. Undeterred, he took to the building at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday evening, pausing briefly to speak with commentators and wave down at spectators before launching himself into the ascent.
The climber's approach to his feat reflected a deliberate mindset. In a statement provided by Netflix, Honnold emphasized the importance of taking deep breaths and composing himself before embarking on the climb – a strategy that serves him well given his extensive climbing experience. With a background that dates back to age 11, when he first started climbing, Honnold has tackled some of the world's most iconic peaks, including Yosemite's El Capitan in 2017.
As Honnold approached Taipei 101, he acknowledged the unique challenges it presented – citing both the physical toll and the unpredictable fatigue that can set in during prolonged climbs. In a statement, he stated simply: "There’s never any time pressure... so you can spend as long as you need just hanging in one space basically trying to compose yourself."
However, what seemed like an effortless ascent belied the physical toll it took on Honnold. Describing the climb as "very physical" and admitting to being tired, the 40-year-old California native hinted at the grueling nature of his endeavor.
When Honnold began his descent, he donned a harness for the first time during the climb and rappelled down to a staging area where his wife waited. Despite an hour and a half into the climb, Honnold had still not yet tackled the final sections of Taipei 101 – a testament to his training and preparation.
Honnold's free climb was initially scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to weather conditions. Undeterred, he took to the building at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday evening, pausing briefly to speak with commentators and wave down at spectators before launching himself into the ascent.
The climber's approach to his feat reflected a deliberate mindset. In a statement provided by Netflix, Honnold emphasized the importance of taking deep breaths and composing himself before embarking on the climb – a strategy that serves him well given his extensive climbing experience. With a background that dates back to age 11, when he first started climbing, Honnold has tackled some of the world's most iconic peaks, including Yosemite's El Capitan in 2017.
As Honnold approached Taipei 101, he acknowledged the unique challenges it presented – citing both the physical toll and the unpredictable fatigue that can set in during prolonged climbs. In a statement, he stated simply: "There’s never any time pressure... so you can spend as long as you need just hanging in one space basically trying to compose yourself."
i cant even imagine doin this climb without a rope lol. alex honnold must be literally insane or something 
he's been climbin since he was 11 and still manage to push himself like that.
i wish i could see it in person
. i mean, alex honnold is an awesome climber and all, but does he really need to climb a 1,667-foot skyscraper without a rope? isn't that just asking for trouble? 
and what about all the people who might get hurt if he falls or gets tired? 
plus, have you seen those videos of him climbing el capitan in yosemite? that's impressive, but this taipei 101 thing is just weird. i mean, can't he just take a helicopter like everyone else? 
i guess its all about takin deep breaths n stayin focused like alex said 
, I mean who needs a harness on the last bit of the climb? Sounds like it was more about showboating than actual skill 
. And that "taking deep breaths" strategy sounds super boring 
, can't he just get pumped up and go for it already 
I gotta say, Alex Honnold is like a superhero or something! I mean, climbing Taipei 101 without a rope? That's insane! 
I also love how he acknowledged the physical toll it would take - being tired is no joke! 
And kudos to him for taking his time, even if it meant pushing back the schedule a day because of bad weather. 
As an amateur climber myself (well, more like a wannabe 
), I can only imagine how daunting it must be to tackle something like that solo. Respect to Honnold for taking on this challenge and crushing it! 
. also, i love how calm and focused he was up there, like a total zen master 
so alex honnold is literally insane lol 
climbing taipei 101 without a rope is like, wow. and he's only tired afterwards 
i guess it's all about training and preparation right? 
and yeah, 1 hour and 30 mins into it, still no final sections done... talk about dedication 
. I mean, who needs time pressure when you're in a state of flow? 
. What's fascinating is the psychological aspect of his climb; the emphasis on deep breathing and self-composition highlights the complex interplay between physical exertion and mental state 
!
. Like, is that even true? Doesn't the fear of falling or getting stuck kinda introduce some pressure? I'm not saying it can't be done with mental preparation and breathing techniques, but come on, human lives are at risk here! 
.
. And what's up with him saying there's never any time pressure? Isn't that just a fancy way of saying he's trying to psych himself out into making the climb even harder? I'm not buying it, bro 
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But what really gets me is when he said there's no time pressure... that's some real zen right there 
. I mean, can we all just take a cue from Alex and be more present in the moment? 
He was literally shaking and tired after like an hour or so, and it shows in his face. I mean, I've climbed smaller peaks with my dad when I was 11, but this is insane! 
. I mean, who needs a rope when you've got skills and a killer view at the end?