Alex Honnold Taipei 101 Climb: Scales Skyscraper Without Gear

American climber Alex Honnold has made headlines by completing the Alex Honnold Taipei 101 climb without ropes, harnesses, or any safety equipment. The iconic skyscraper in Taiwan’s capital, standing at 508 meters (1,667 feet) with 101 floors, is designed to resemble a bamboo stalk.

Honnold is famous for being the first person to free solo climb El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park, a vertical granite cliff, also without safety gear. His Taipei ascent was originally scheduled for Saturday but was delayed due to wet weather conditions.

The climb was streamed live on Netflix, which warned viewers that the feed could be delayed in case of emergencies. Honnold completed the climb in one hour and 31 minutes, celebrating the feat with a single word: “Sick.” His record-breaking time more than halved the previous ascent of the skyscraper.

French climber Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman,” scaled Taipei 101 in four hours decades earlier, using ropes and a harness. Honnold’s achievement drew attention not only for its speed but also for the complete absence of safety equipment.

As Honnold neared the 89th floor, cheering fans waved from inside the building, separated only by windows. Video of the moment, shared by Honnold and Netflix on Instagram, shows the climber continuing undeterred despite distractions.

Taiwan’s Vice President, Hsiao Bi-khim, congratulated Honnold on social media, writing, “I admit I would probably feel sick, too, barely able to watch.” At the top, Honnold was greeted by his wife, who expressed concern for the wind and heat during the climb.

Honnold’s career is filled with extreme climbs. His free solo ascent of the 915-meter (3,000-foot) El Capitan was documented in the film Free Solo, which won an Academy Award, cementing his status as one of the most daring climbers in the world.