By Yu Jhou Chen (KAS, Grade 11)
CNA Photo, Jan 21st.
American rock climber Alex Honnold, widely regarded as one of the greatest free solo climbers, if not the greatest climber, in history, is preparing to attempt one of the most audacious feats of his career: climbing Taipei 101 without ropes or safety gear.
This event is set to be broadcast live by Netflix and has captured much global traction.
Alex Honnold rose to international fame through his many free-solo ascents. His most famous – free soloing El Capitan’s 900 metre granite in Yosemite National Park – not only cemented his reputation in the climbing world but was documented in the Oscar winning film Free Solo (2018). Over the past few decades, Honnold has pushed the physical boundaries of traditional climbing. He has described climbing not as a pursuit of danger, but a meticulous process of preparation and concentration.
Honnold himself emphasized that the idea of climbing Taipei 101, a 101-story skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, had been in his mind for more than a decade. According to his statements, he first saw the building over ten years ago and hoped one day to climb it.
Just a few days ago, Honnold was spotted making trial ascents on Taipei 101 using safety ropes during practice sessions. These trial climbs caught the attention of nearby onlookers. The official climb is scheduled for January 24th, 2026, and will be presented on Netflix. As millions of viewers prepare to watch, Honnold’s climb will definitely be a defining moment in the history of extreme sports.
