Renowned American free solo climber Alex Honnold has postponed his highly anticipated rope-free ascent of Taipei 101 due to unfavorable weather conditions. The 508-meter (1,667-foot) skyscraper, among the world’s tallest structures, presented wet surface conditions that forced a 24-hour delay for safety reasons.
Honnold, who achieved global recognition for his unprecedented rope-free climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan in 2017, expressed disappointment but emphasized safety considerations. ‘Sadly it’s raining in Taipei right now so I don’t get to go climbing,’ the 40-year-old climber stated on Saturday.
The architectural marvel features eight distinct sections designed to resemble bamboo segments, creating unique climbing challenges with slight overhangs. Netflix, which will stream the event live, has implemented a 10-second delay protocol as a precautionary measure. ‘We’ll cut away. Nobody expects or wants to see anything like that to happen,’ explained Netflix executive Jeff Gaspin.
The climb, now rescheduled for Sunday, represents a lifelong ambition for Honnold, who is married with two children. His historic El Capitan ascent was documented in the Academy Award-winning film ‘Free Solo,’ showcasing his extraordinary climbing prowess on the 915-meter granite face.
This attempt follows French climber Alain Robert’s 2004 ascent using safety equipment, which required four hours to complete. Honnold’s approach will involve three distinct phases: navigating an initial 113-meter section of sloping steel and glass, conquering the eight bamboo-inspired segments, and finally scaling the tower’s spire.
Netflix officials confirmed that ‘safety remains our top priority’ while acknowledging the significance of this athletic achievement in the mountaineering world.