The Vertical Bamboo: Alex Honnold’s Historic Ascent of Taipei 101
On January 25, 2026, Alex Honnold further cemented his legacy as the world’s premier free soloist by becoming the first person to scale Taipei 101 without ropes or safety equipment. Standing at 508 meters (1,667 feet), the Taiwanese landmark—inspired by the structure of a bamboo stalk—provided a unique urban arena for Honnold’s calculated precision.
The ascent, broadcast live globally on Netflix’s Skyscraper Live, was a grueling test of endurance and psychological fortitude. Navigating the building’s distinctive eight-tiered segments, or “bamboo boxes,” Honnold utilized narrow L-shaped metal beams and ornamental outcroppings as his primary points of contact. Despite the high-altitude winds and the physical toll of a 91-minute climb, he maintained a remarkably calm demeanor, even pausing at the 89th floor to wave to spectators inside.
The feat drew widespread acclaim, including a message of congratulations from Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, who praised the climber’s “fearless spirit.”
Criticism of the Ascent
Many climbers have accused Honnold of “selling out.” It is reported that the climber made in the mid-six figures for his ascent. And that’s a pretty good payday for a professional climber.
The key is that Honnold is a professional. This means that to make a living, sometimes he has to do things that not everyone approves of. He has to do things for a crowd. He has to sell himself. And to continue to be a professional climber he has to continue to sell himself.
We don’t see anything wrong with a professional climber doing what he needs to do to make a living.
Free Solo Ascents
Where things get complicated is when people try to imitate Honnold’s free soloing. This isn’t to say that someone is going to free solo El Capitan or that they’re going to free solo a skyscraper, but instead that they will try to free solo something and then get in over their head.
There has been an uptick in young male climbers free soloing and falling, or needing a rescue. The climbers often do something free solo because they want to post it online. Sometimes they do it to show off.
Anyone free soloing to show off or to post it online should seriously reconsider what they’re doing.
Free soloing beyond low fifth-class (and even there) is incredibly dangerous. Many believe that they won’t fall, so it doesn’t matter.
Everybody needs to understand that they can fall…and they need to understand what the consequences of a fall will be…
–Jason D. Martin