In a remarkable display of climbing prowess, American climber Alex Honnold has successfully scaled the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan, reaching the top without any ropes, harnesses, or safety equipment. This remarkable ascent took place on a building that stands 508 meters (1,667 feet) tall, renowned for its striking bamboo-like design.
Honnold, widely known for his groundbreaking ropeless climb of El Capitan in Yosemite, originally planned to undertake this challenge on a Saturday; however, due to inclement weather, the climb was postponed. His ascent was streamed live on Netflix, with precautions in place to safeguard viewers from witnessing any potential accidents.
Completing the climb in an impressive 91 minutes, Honnold expressed his excitement with a simple yet enthusiastic exclamation: Sick. His finishing time more than halved that of Alain Robert, a French climber who had previously scaled the tower using ropes and harnesses in four hours.
Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim praised Honnold, humorously noting her own discomfort at watching him scale the building. Honnold was greeted at the summit by his wife, who conveyed her concerns about the winds and heat during the climb. As he neared the 89th floor, onlookers cheered and waved, further adding to the exhilarating atmosphere of the event.
Honnold’s daring exploits have made waves in the climbing community, earning him international recognition and accolades, including an Academy Award for the documentary Free Solo, which detailed his historic climb of El Capitan.
