TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US free climbing star Alex Honnold will attempt a free solo climb of Taipei 101 on Jan. 24, which will be streamed live on Netflix.
Honnold plans to ascend all 101 floors of the tower without any ropes in a broadcast titled “Skyscraper Live,” per CNA. Ahead of the climb, he spoke with Netflix Tudum about why he chose Taipei 101, how he manages fear during extreme challenges, and how his definition of success has evolved as a father.
He said he chose Taipei 101 because “it's amazing and an incredible building,” pointing out that its unique design makes it climbable. Obtaining permission to climb skyscrapers is extremely difficult, he added, making this opportunity especially rare.
He said the greatest risk of this climb lies in its difference from traditional rock climbing. Unlike climbing a cliff, there is no “hardest single move” in a building climb. Instead, the main challenge is cumulative fatigue, which is harder to predict and makes the endeavor more uncertain.
He identified the most difficult section as the “bamboo boxes,” eight overhanging segments in the building’s middle. Each segment spans eight floors, totaling 64 floors, and all are identical.
He estimated that each segment overhangs about 10 to 15 degrees, followed by a balcony every eight floors. “In a lot of ways, it actually feels like a climbing pitch, which is the way climbers differentiate segments of a climb,” said Honnold.
The climber said he manages fear by thinking of it as if “I'm experiencing sensation in my body.”
He said success for him is not only completing the climb but also enjoying the experience. Similar to his approach in ultramarathons, his goal is “to not injure myself and comport myself with dignity.”
Standing 508 meters tall, Taipei 101 was the world’s tallest building when completed in 2004. It now ranks as the 11th tallest globally while remaining Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper.
