Climber Alex Honnold Scales 1,667-Foot Tower With No Ropes

A lifelong dream became reality when professional climber Alex Honnold reached the top of Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper after scaling 1,667 feet with nothing but custom shoes and determination.

The 40-year-old father of two from Las Vegas completed the rope-free climb on January 24 in front of street-level crowds and a global Netflix audience. He started at the building's southeast corner and spent 90 minutes navigating glass, steel, and what he called the most challenging part: the bamboo boxes.

"The view is amazing," Honnold told Netflix announcers during the broadcast. "Honestly, it's pretty surreal."

His wife Sanni McCandless waited at the top, ready to remind him of his identity beyond climbing. "My job is to be the person he sees at the top who reminds him he's a dad and a husband, not just a climber," she said.

Spectators inside the building pressed against windows to snap photos on their phones. Fans on the street cheered as Honnold looked down occasionally and smiled, appearing to savor the moment.

When he finally reached a ledge near the end, Honnold paused to catch his breath. "I'm good. I'm tired, for sure," he said, still facing the rings and spire ahead.

Why This Inspires

Honnold's climb represents more than athletic achievement. It shows what becomes possible when someone combines technical mastery with mental discipline and careful preparation.

Sports psychologist Michael Gervais, who has known Honnold for a decade, calls him "one of the most significant athletes of our time." The climber's approach includes commitment to training, planning, and becoming completely absorbed in the task at hand.

This wasn't reckless daring. Honnold spent more than 10 years dreaming about this specific climb and carefully preparing for every detail, including the psychological challenges of scaling something man-made rather than natural rock.

When Honnold finally stood atop the spire, he waved his arms above his head as cheers erupted from below. "What a view, it's incredible, what a beautiful day," he said afterward, adding that the wind made him focus on balance while taking in Taipei's beauty.

The former world's tallest building, which opened in 2004, gave Honnold a platform to showcase what dedicated preparation and mental mastery can accomplish.

His most famous achievement came in 2017 when he became the first person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. But this urban climb offered different challenges and a different kind of victory: proving that childhood dreams, no matter how ambitious, can become adult triumphs.