Alex Honnold, the world’s most renowned climber, has climbed Taipei 101 in Taiwan—a 1,667-foot skyscraper—without ropes, harnesses, or any safety equipment. The free solo ascent occurred entirely on the building’s exterior.
Taipei 101, which was the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2010, features a massive tuned mass damper designed to counteract wind and seismic forces. Honnold completed his climb in conditions of high wind speed, typical at such elevations.
Honnold described the compensation for the publicly broadcast climb as “shockingly low,” stating it amounted to a mid-six-figure sum compared to professional athletes’ contracts. He indicated he would have undertaken the climb without financial incentive if granted permission by Taipei 101’s management.
