Alex Honnold added another jaw-dropping chapter to climbing history on January 25, when the world’s most famous free soloist scaled Taipei 101 — one of the tallest skyscrapers on Earth — without ropes, harnesses, or safety nets.
For 92 tense minutes on a clear Sunday morning in Taipei, thousands of spectators craned their necks skyward as Honnold methodically worked his way up the 1,667-foot (508-meter) tower. Across the globe, viewers were glued to live screens as the 40-year-old climber made what many described as the most audacious urban ascent ever attempted. At 10:43 a.m. local time, Honnold clambered onto the final inches of the building’s metal spire, stood atop the summit, and waved to the roaring crowd below — grinning as if the climb were just another day at the office.
It was an instantly iconic moment. Honnold became the first known climber to free solo Taipei 101, meaning he climbed the entire structure without ropes or protective equipment, relying only on his hands, feet, and a chalk bag for grip. The feat blended his trademark calm under pressure with an entirely new setting: a gleaming urban landmark rather than a remote cliff face.
Honnold has been a revered figure in the climbing world for nearly two decades, rising to prominence in his early 20s for his fearless free solo ascents of difficult rock routes. He became a global household name in 2017, when he completed the first-ever free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park — a 3,000-foot vertical wall — an achievement immortalized in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. Since then, he has continued to push the limits of the sport, setting new benchmarks while maintaining his famously analytical approach to risk.
Taipei 101 had long been on Honnold’s radar. He said he had eyed the building for more than a decade, but the opportunity to climb it never materialized until the idea was pitched to Netflix, which live-streamed the ascent worldwide. Honnold later described the climb as “the biggest urban free solo climb ever.”
The attempt was originally scheduled for Saturday morning, but poor weather forced a delay. Sunday delivered ideal conditions: blue skies, light winds, and clear visibility — a critical factor for a climb where even a small mistake could be fatal.
Honnold is not the first climber to reach the top of Taipei 101. French climber Alain Robert summited the building in 2004 using ropes as part of the tower’s official public opening. Robert battled rain and heavy winds that day, stretching his ascent to nearly four hours. By comparison, Honnold completed his climb in just over an hour and a half.
Both climbers have noted that, while visually extreme, the ascent was not as technically demanding as many natural rock formations. Honnold wasn’t clinging to slick glass panels but instead used metal structures, beams, and ledges built into the skyscraper’s design.
Still, the margin for error remained razor-thin. One slip, one lapse in focus, and the consequences would have been irreversible. That Honnold made it look routine only reinforced why he occupies a singular place in climbing history — and why his summit atop Taipei 101 will be remembered as one of the sport’s most unforgettable moments.
