Professional rock climber Alex Honnold is set to undertake one of his most dangerous feats yet, attempting a live free solo ascent of the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. The event, which will be streamed globally on Netflix, sees the 40-year-old athlete scaling the 1,667-foot-tall structure without any safety ropes or protective gear, putting his life squarely on the line.
Fatal Risks and Unusual Safety Factors
In a candid interview with CNN ahead of the climb, Honnold addressed the grim reality of a potential fall. He confirmed that such an incident would likely prove fatal, though he noted an intriguing caveat specific to Taipei 101. "If something happens, I would die, though actually, on this particular building, that's not even totally true because there are balconies every few floors," Honnold explained. He elaborated that the building's unique geometry means a climber could fall in numerous spots and potentially survive, which in some ways renders it safer than many natural rock-climbing objectives.
Architectural Challenges of the Skyscraper
Constructed in 2004, Taipei 101 features predominantly glass curtain walls and boasts balconies near its summit that taper to a pointed peak. Once holding the title of the world's tallest building before being surpassed by Dubai's Burj Khalifa in 2010, it presents a formidable man-made challenge. Honnold highlighted the most demanding section, known as the "bamboo boxes." These are eight overhanging segments in the middle of the building, each spanning eight floors, creating a continuous 64-floor stretch. "They overhang, I don't know, 10 or 15 degrees — it's kind of steep — and then there's a balcony every eight floors... The boxes are definitely the most physically demanding part," he told Netflix's Tudum platform.
Personal Reflections and Family Concerns
Now a father to two young children, Honnold's wife, Sanni McCandless, acknowledged public worries about his continued free-soloing in a recent trailer for Skyscraper Live. "This is who Alex is," McCandless stated, underscoring his unwavering commitment to the sport. Honnold first achieved global recognition in 2017 when he became the first person to free solo a complete route on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a feat documented in the Oscar-winning 2018 film Free Solo.
Nerves and Novelty of the Climb
Despite his status as one of the world's premier climbers, Honnold admits to feeling some apprehension about this unprecedented endeavour. "I'm sure I'll feel a little nervous at the bottom, just because it's something totally new and I don't know how it's going to feel," he shared with Tudum. Having dedicated three decades to scaling natural rock faces, this marks his first major ascent of a large handmade structure, promising a distinctly different experience.
When questioned about performing such a death-defying stunt before a live audience of millions, Honnold revealed that the scrutiny does not faze him. "Just because the feeling of being witnessed is nothing compared to the feeling of trying to do something challenging and do it well," he asserted. "My life is on the line — I don't really care who's watching. I care about doing what I'm doing and doing it well."
The highly anticipated Skyscraper Live special is scheduled to stream on Netflix this Friday at 8pm Eastern Time / 5pm Pacific Time, offering viewers a real-time glimpse into Honnold's audacious climb.
