Alex Honnold Soloing Taipei 101

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

Here is a bit of commentary from another person that is here in Taipei.

https://adamskolnick.substack.com/p/the-dress-rehearsal

Anyone else jealous of the fact that he's getting so much money from this that he can afford a BD Vaporlock Magnetron for his microtrax? Watch the vid in the article, dude must be loaded if he can afford those...

Jabroni McChufferson wrote:

Success?

Alex Honnold is set to free solo the Taipei 101 skyscraper in a live two-hour Netflix event titled "Skyscraper Live," airing on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The climb in Taiwan is scheduled to begin around 9 a.m. local time on Saturday, January 24. 

John Muir would have done it, because the building called him to do it, then he would have written a poem about it.

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

Here is a bit of commentary from another person that is here in Taipei.

https://adamskolnick.substack.com/p/the-dress-rehearsal

His observations are exactly what my apprehensions are.   The “nasty” variable stack up of dirty buildering in Taipei.  Most who dismiss this as easy and a “walk in the park” haven’t gone buildering in Taipei.  I know what he’s going to encounter and it makes me more nervous than any Yosemite granite at harder grades.

 At this point I just wish him luck and Godspeed and hope he doesn’t let the pressure of a live event influence any decisions. 

Raining here in Taipei 

grug gwrote:

The whole event is a cash grab that won't impress any rock climbers. 

Climbing the building is cool I guess. But doing it for a netflix special is laaaaaame. Really looking forward to how Hollywood tries to create plot drama out of it. 

Bro totally jumped the shark, reminds me of Evil Kenievel stunt films from the 80s 

Netflix should have picked a tower in Qatar or Saudi Arabia.   

Mark Pilatewrote:

Exactly because they have no idea what Taiwan is like let alone Taipei which is classed as a humid subtropical climate. Add on top of that a high level of air pollution and as a climber he'll face a greasy and slippery structure. I much rather climb sticky granite or granite that is polished.

Wish him good luck too!

Still a bit cloudy this evening when I was walking back to my hotel room after dinner.  But a big improvement from this morning.

I’ve never been too keen on buildering but looking up there I kinda wish I was able to huck a lap on mini traxion.  Unfortunately the people that run the building are only letting Alex climb on it.  There are actually some cool looking features up there.

Mikey Schaeferwrote:

Still a bit cloudy this evening when I was walking back to my hotel room after dinner.  But a big improvement from this morning.

I’ve never been too keen on buildering but looking up there I kinda wish I was able to huck a lap on mini traxion.  Unfortunately the people that run the building are only letting Alex climb on it.  There are actually some cool looking features up there.

DO IT

Apparently this guy thinks Honnold is weak sauce or something.  It's pretty funny to read.

https://gripped.com/profiles/cn-tower-free-soloist-questions-alex-honnolds-claim-to-biggest-urban-free-solo/

I mean, I'm on Team Zoolander here. 

F r i t zwrote:

I mean, I'm on Team Zoolander here. 

Blue steel

I thought it was a worthwhile read for the historical perspective. Much like our own Goodwin on the forum, Dan is quite articulate and he raises valid points. Although he is critical of Honnold on some points, I never read into his responses as an attempt to malign the upcoming accomplishment.

I do shudder violently at Goodwin's suggestion of a governing body for urban climbing.

As for Taipei, I am ambivalent. I hope Honnold gets into the zone and enjoys himself with some type-1 fun, despite the media circus.

No matter how much paparazzi he attracts now, I still do believe that he's the real deal and climbs for the sake of climbing. (I base this off the one time I had him autograph a chalkbag along with a thousand other people, ha [which I gave to one of my students]). /hagiography

And I hope urban climbing doesn't become any more of a regular thing than it is.

Mikey are we a go here?  Trying to make plans for tonight. TY. 

Tom Rangitschwrote:

Apparently this guy thinks Honnold is weak sauce or something.  It's pretty funny to read.

https://gripped.com/profiles/cn-tower-free-soloist-questions-alex-honnolds-claim-to-biggest-urban-free-solo/

> In the traditional spirit of mountaineering, I rappelled back down the exterior of the tower twice during my ascent. Mr. Honnold plans to take the elevator down.

LOL

Looking pretty good this morning for an on time start.

You just know some college kid somewhere is going to see this and think "Taipei 101?", that's introductory freesoloing - I can do that!  ;-P

F r i t zwrote:

No matter how much paparazzi he attracts now, I still do believe that he's the real deal and climbs for the sake of climbing. 

This sums up my thoughts perfectly. When I first heard about this Netflix climb, my gut reaction was like some on this thread: sellout, circus, etc. But I quickly decided not to second guess a once in a lifetime talent who has amazed, inspired, and entertained us for years. Go Alex!