U.S. rock climber Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

TAIPEI, Taiwan — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday with none ropes or protecting tools.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the highest of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he began. Carrying a pink short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms forwards and backwards over his head.

“It was like what a view, it is unimaginable, what a gorgeous day,” he mentioned afterward. “It was very windy, so I used to be like, do not fall off the spire. I used to be attempting to steadiness properly. But it surely was, what an unimaginable place, what a gorgeous method to see Taipei.”

Honnold, identified for his ropeless ascent up Yosemite Nationwide Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one nook of Taipei 101 utilizing small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he needed to maneuver round and clamber up the perimeters of enormous decorative constructions that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up together with his naked fingers.

The constructing has 101 flooring, with the toughest half being the 64 flooring of the center part — the “bamboo bins” that give the constructing its signature look. Divided into eight, every section has eight flooring of steep, overhanging climbing adopted by balconies, the place he took quick rests as he made his method upward.

Honnold’s free solo climb of the enduring constructing in Taiwan’s capital metropolis was broadcast stay on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, initially scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for twenty-four hours resulting from rain.

Having a cheering crowd was uncommon and a bit unnerving at first for Honnold, whose climbs are normally in distant areas.

“After I was leaving the bottom, you are like oh it is sort of intense, there’s so many individuals watching,” he mentioned. “However then truthfully, they’re all wishing me properly. I imply principally it simply makes the entire expertise really feel nearly extra festive, all these good individuals are out supporting me and having a superb time.”

The climb drew each pleasure and concern over the moral implications of trying such a high-risk endeavor on stay broadcast.

Honnold is not the primary climber to ascend Taipei 101, however he’s the primary to take action with out a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the constructing on Christmas Day in 2004 as a part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest constructing.