Alex Honnold Delays Taipei 101 Climb Due to Rain

Renowned American climber Alex Honnold has postponed his highly anticipated rope-free ascent of Taipei 101, one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, due to inclement weather conditions. The climb, which has attracted worldwide attention, is now set to take place 24 hours later.

Wet Weather Stalls Climbing Plans

On Saturday, Honnold expressed his disappointment via social media, stating, “Sadly, it’s raining in Taipei right now, so I don’t get to go climbing.” The Taipei 101, positioned in Taiwan’s capital, reaches a remarkable height of 508 meters (1,667 feet) and is an architectural marvel composed of steel, glass, and concrete, designed to resemble bamboo stalks.

Netflix to Stream the Historic Event

This thrilling climb will be streamed live on Netflix, which has made arrangements for a 10-second delay in the broadcast for safety reasons. Jeff Gaspin, a Netflix executive, remarked, “It’s obviously a conversation that everybody has. We’ll cut away. Nobody expects or wants to see anything like that to happen.”

Safety First

The climbing event is now rescheduled for Sunday, with Netflix emphasizing that “safety remains our top priority.” They expressed gratitude toward viewers for their understanding regarding the postponement.

A History of Conquering Taipei 101

Honnold’s upcoming climb is not the building’s first encounter with fearless athletes. In 2004, French climber Alain Robert, self-proclaimed “Spiderman,” scaled the same structure using safety harnesses and ropes, completing the climb in a remarkable four hours.

The Climbing Challenge

Honnold’s ascent will consist of three distinct stages. He will begin with an initial 113-meter section of sloping steel and glass, followed by ascending the eight distinctive “bamboo” boxes that form the main body of the tower. The final segment will involve reaching the spire at the tower’s apex.

A Lifelong Dream

The 40-year-old climber, who is also a family man with two children, described this feat as “a lifelong dream.” Honnold gained fame for his remarkable 2017 free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a historic achievement that was captured in the award-winning documentary “Free Solo.” The sheer granite wall rises approximately 3,000 feet (915 meters) and is a favorite destination for climbers worldwide.