As Honnold progressed in height, large numbers of followers gathered beneath the tower amid continuous cheers and encouragement, an experience described by the American climber as unusual due to his usual adventures taking place in remote natural locations.
Khaberni - Taipei witnessed an unprecedented event after the American climber Alex Honnold successfully executed a highly dangerous adventure, climbing the famous skyscraper "Taipei 101" without using any ropes or safety equipment, in a bold challenge watched by the world through a live stream on "Netflix".
The tower is about 508 meters tall, making it one of the tallest towers in the world, adding an exceptional character to the attempt, especially as Honnold undertook the climb using only his hands and feet, relying on small metal protrusions and prominent architectural elements in the facade of the building, in a performance classified among the most dangerous 'free climbing' operations on urban structures.
The adventure kicked off on Saturday evening, U.S. time, after it was delayed for 24 hours due to unsuitable weather conditions.
The climb took about an hour and a half, during which Honnold faced increasing physical fatigue, confirming that climbing buildings is completely different from climbing mountains, due to continuous muscle exertion and difficulty in estimating fatigue over time.
He stated before commencing, "There is no time pressure, you can stop and catch your breath until you fully regain your focus."
The middle part of the tower, known as the "Bamboo Boxes," represents the most challenging phase of the journey, extending across dozens of steeply inclined floors, with short breaks on narrow balconies. During this stage, Honnold paused momentarily, waved to the crowd, and exchanged words with commentators before continuing his ascent towards the peak.
Upon reaching the top of the tower, Honnold stood before a panoramic view of the Taiwanese capital and said, "The winds were extremely strong, and I had to be cautious with every movement," adding that he felt greatly fatigued after completing the climb.
After finishing the free climb, Honnold used ropes for the first time during descent, where he donned safety gear and descended to a designated platform, before taking the elevator for the remainder of the way back, in a scene that marked the end of an exceptional adventure.
Alex Honnold, aged 40, is known as one of the leading specialists in "solo free climbing" and gained global fame in 2017 after climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without any protection, a feat documented in the Oscar-winning documentary film "Free Solo" in 2019.
Throughout his career, Honnold started climbing from an early age and achieved multiple milestones in different parts of the world, including climbing towering peaks during record-breaking time periods, alongside participating in vertical explorations in Antarctica, South America, and Greenland.
It is noteworthy that Taipei 101, when it opened in 2004, was the tallest building globally before the title later shifted to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and it currently holds a high position on the list of the world's tallest towers.
While other climbers have previously ascended the tower using ropes, Honnold is the first to undertake this challenge without any safety measures, an achievement described by many as a landmark in the history of urban climbing.
