Alex Honnold Unveils 'Scariest' Elements of His Groundbreaking Taipei 101 Ascent
Professional rock climber Alex Honnold has made history by becoming the first person ever to free solo the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper, and he is now sharing intimate details about the most daunting moments of his extraordinary feat. The 40-year-old American athlete successfully completed his rope-free climb of the 1,667-foot structure located in Taiwan's capital on Saturday, captivating a global audience of millions via Netflix's livestream event, Skyscraper Live.
The Dragon Ornaments: A Terrifying Yet Thrilling Challenge
In an exclusive interview with Variety following his death-defying ascent, Honnold candidly revealed that the "scariest thing" about his journey to the summit was navigating the building's distinctive metal dragon-like ornaments positioned at its corners. "I mean, they're really fun, they're really cool. It's an incredible sequence, cool position," Honnold explained. "But every time I set up on the dragon, I'd be like, 'This is kind of crazy.' You're like, out over the abyss. It's cool."
When questioned about the possibility of circumventing these ornate features, Honnold elaborated that alternative routes were neither practical nor dignified. "You can wedge yourself in behind the dragon and squirm up the back of it. But that's actually not as easy as it seems like it would be," he noted. "Because the inside of the dragon is actually like a smooth sheet of metal. So, yeah, you can climb it, but it looks very undignified. It's full-body strenuous, and it's not that much easier."
Honnold emphasised that the dragon ornaments ultimately represented the optimal path, particularly for climbers utilising safety ropes. "And so, actually, the dragon is kind of the better way. If you're climbing with a rope, you for sure always do the dragon, because it's more fun, it's joyous. It's just slightly scarier because the position is so exposed."
Confronting Ferocious Winds at Extreme Altitudes
The historic climb, originally scheduled for Friday evening, was postponed by 24 hours due to adverse weather conditions. Although Saturday presented drier circumstances suitable for the attempt, Honnold still encountered significant wind challenges during the final stages of his ascent. "The top of the building rips wind and then, just by coincidence, the wind direction happened to be hammering the corner that I was climbing. Other aspects of the building would have been more sheltered," he detailed.
Honnold described the intense and variable wind forces he experienced while manoeuvring the skyscraper's upper sections. "But then, when I climbed the corner itself, I would just be getting hammered. I was like, 'Ah!' And then the same when stepping onto the dragons. When I was on the left face of the dragon, I would be sheltered from the wind. But if I reached my hand around the dragon, it would basically be like, 'Wow, it's so windy!' I definitely noticed the wind."
Architectural Grandeur and Historical Context
Constructed in 2004, Taipei 101 is renowned for its striking glass curtain walls and balconies that taper elegantly towards a pointed pinnacle. The building once held the prestigious title of the world's tallest skyscraper before being surpassed by Dubai's Burj Khalifa in 2010. Today, it stands proudly as the 11th-tallest building globally, symbolising architectural innovation and engineering excellence.
A Triumphant Conclusion to a Daring Expedition
Alex Honnold completed his awe-inspiring free solo climb in a remarkable 91 minutes. Upon reaching the summit, he celebrated his achievement with an exuberant declaration: "Sick. I'm so psyched!" before capturing a triumphant selfie to commemorate the moment. This unprecedented accomplishment not only solidifies Honnold's status as a legendary figure in extreme sports but also highlights the extraordinary human capacity for courage, precision, and resilience in the face of monumental challenges.
