Alex Honnold is climbing Taipei 101 with no ropes, live on TV. It’s drawing excitement — and concern

Alex Honnold to Attempt First Free Solo Climb of Taipei 101 Live on Netflix

Towering high above Taiwan’s capital city at 1,667 feet (508 meters), Taipei 101 dominates the skyline with its distinctive bamboo-like design. This weekend, the earthquake-proof skyscraper will serve as the stage for one of the most daring climbing feats ever attempted.

Professional rock climber Alex Honnold will scale the steel and glass structure on Saturday morning in his signature free solo style—without ropes or protective equipment. The high-stakes climb will be broadcast live on Netflix, marking a significant milestone in both climbing history and live event programming.

Honnold, who gained worldwide fame following his legendary ropeless ascent of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan (documented in the Oscar-winning film “Free Solo”), has been eyeing Taipei 101 for more than a decade.

“When you look at climbing objectives, you look for things that are singular,” Honnold told The Associated Press last year. “Something like El Capitan where it’s way bigger and way prouder than all the things around it.” Taipei 101, which once held the title of world’s tallest building, clearly fits that criteria.

The announcement of the event has sparked mixed reactions from the public and climbing community. While many admire Honnold’s unparalleled skill, others have questioned the wisdom of attempting such a high-risk endeavor, particularly as Honnold is now a married father of two young daughters.

Although Honnold won’t be the first climber to ascend the skyscraper, he will be the first to do so without safety equipment. French climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 during the building’s grand opening, but used ropes and took nearly four hours to complete the climb—twice his expected time—while battling wind, rain, and an injured elbow.

Honnold, who has been training extensively for months, appears confident. “I don’t think it’ll be that extreme,” he said. “I think it’s the perfect sweet spot where it’s hard enough to be engaging for me and obviously an interesting climb.”

The most challenging portion of the climb will be the middle section—the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its iconic appearance. This 64-floor segment is divided into eight parts, each requiring Honnold to navigate eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing before reaching a balcony where he can rest.

The production team has implemented extensive safety measures for the broadcast. James Smith, an executive with event producer Plimsoll Productions, consulted safety advisers early in the planning process. The broadcast will feature a 10-second delay, and Smith and Honnold will maintain communication throughout the event.

“We’ll have cameramen positioned inside the building, various hatches and places to bail during the climb, and four high-angle camera operators suspended on ropes,” Smith explained. “These people all know Alex. They trust Alex. They’re going to be close to him throughout the whole climb.”

Weather conditions remain a critical factor. Professional forecasters are providing regular updates, with current predictions showing a small chance of light rain on Saturday morning. If conditions deteriorate, the climb will be postponed.

The event has particular significance for local Taiwanese climbers. Chin Tzu-hsiang, who runs a climbing gym in Taipei, expressed excitement about Honnold’s attempt. “For Alex Honnold to finish the climb, it’s like he’s helping us fulfill our dream,” Chin said, noting that he and fellow climbers have often looked up at Taipei 101 and wondered about scaling it.

The broadcast raises important ethical considerations. Subbu Vincent, director of media and journalism ethics at Santa Clara University, emphasizes the importance of Honnold having a “back-off clause” and ensuring that the production aspect doesn’t increase the already significant risk. The 10-second delay is crucial, Vincent notes, as it would allow producers to cut the broadcast immediately if something were to go wrong.

There are also concerns about the potential influence on impressionable viewers, particularly young people who might be inspired to attempt dangerous climbs without Honnold’s years of experience and preparation. Several deaths have occurred from both free soloing and “roof-topping”—where people access skyscraper rooftops, often illegally, for dramatic photos.

Jeff Smoot, author of “All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing,” acknowledges these worries but provides context. “From the public’s perspective, this is thrill-seeking. From the climber’s perspective, it’s a meditative art form,” he explained. Risk-taking has always been central to climbing culture, dating back to legendary figures like John Long and John Bachar who regularly climbed without ropes in the 1970s.

As viewers tune in worldwide for this unprecedented event, one question lingers in Smoot’s mind: “If it wasn’t dangerous, would people want to watch?”