Professional climber Alex Honnold attempts historic free solo on towering Taiwan skyscraper
Legendary climber Alex Honnold is scaling Taipei 101 without ropes or safety equipment in a groundbreaking live broadcast on Netflix, marking the highest urban free solo ever attempted. The 40-year-old professional climber began his ascent of the 1,667-foot skyscraper Saturday morning in Taiwan, with the stream available to US audiences starting at 8 p.m. ET Friday evening.
The expedition, titled “Skyscraper Live,” represents a watershed moment for both climbing and broadcast entertainment. Honnold, famous for his Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo” that chronicled his ropeless ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan, has spent months training and practicing moves on Taipei 101 to prepare for this moment.
The Challenge Ahead
Taipei 101’s 101 floors present a unique climbing puzzle. The most demanding section spans 64 middle floors featuring the building’s signature “bamboo box” architecture—steep, overhanging segments interrupted by rest-point balconies. Honnold expects the climb to take approximately 1.5 hours from base to summit.
The climb comes with significant weather considerations. Light rain was falling in Taipei on Saturday morning, with forecasts indicating a 50 to 60 percent chance of precipitation during the expected climbing window. Honnold has indicated he would postpone if conditions deteriorate beyond safe parameters.
Historic Achievement
While French climber Alain Robert scaled Taipei 101 in 2004 as the building’s first climber, he used ropes and safety equipment—a requirement imposed by Taiwanese authorities at the time. Honnold’s attempt marks the first free solo ascent of the structure, cementing what event organizers describe as “the biggest urban free solo ever.”
Elite climber Emily Harrington joins the broadcast team as expert commentator. The production includes a 10-second broadcast delay and consultation with professional safety advisers and weather forecasters to ensure risk mitigation throughout the event.
A Shift in Risk and Entertainment
The live broadcast of such high-stakes climbing has sparked both excitement and ethical questions, particularly given Honnold’s status as a married father of two. Production executives argue that historically significant athletic achievements warrant live broadcasting to reach global audiences. The novelty factor has already captured widespread attention among climbing communities, with Taiwanese climbers expressing both admiration and investment in Honnold’s success.
