22 votes

American rock climber Alex Honnold reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

7 comments

  1. password1
    Link
    For those expecting a typical climbing video, this one was unfortunately ruined by the commentators who treated this like an American football match that needs constant talking.

    For those expecting a typical climbing video, this one was unfortunately ruined by the commentators who treated this like an American football match that needs constant talking.

    17 votes
  2. [3]
    cfabbro
    Link
    Link to Netflix stream: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81987107 Now that he's summited I can actually watch it. There was no way in hell I was watching it live though. :P

    Link to Netflix stream: https://www.netflix.com/watch/81987107

    Now that he's summited I can actually watch it. There was no way in hell I was watching it live though. :P

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      PraiseTheSoup
      Link Parent
      It was broadcast on a 10 second delay, so you were never going to see him fall anyway.

      It was broadcast on a 10 second delay, so you were never going to see him fall anyway.

      4 votes
      1. cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I knew it was going to be, but it still would have been way too stressful for me to watch, knowing that if the feed cut out at any point it likely meant he had died. However, only watching...

        Yeah, I knew it was going to be, but it still would have been way too stressful for me to watch, knowing that if the feed cut out at any point it likely meant he had died. However, only watching it after knowing he successfully summited took that stress away so I could enjoy watching it without having to worry.

        5 votes
  3. stu2b50
    Link
    Apparently he was only paid mid-six figures for this by Netflix, but he agreed anyway since he just wanted to do it. He'd probably never have the opportunity to solo a tall building again, simply...

    Apparently he was only paid mid-six figures for this by Netflix, but he agreed anyway since he just wanted to do it. He'd probably never have the opportunity to solo a tall building again, simply because you need approval from the owner of the building and they're probably not going to be very accommodating to "I want to climb your building without any safety equipment".

    Honnold has climbed buildings before - he was a stunt consultant for Mission Impossible and climbed the Burj Khalifa repeatedly as part of that. With rope, of course.

    Looking at the timelapse, it was definitely pretty simple compared to the normal climbs Honnold does, let alone El Cap. And no one can doubt his nerves at this point.

    A fun Honnold video is this one from ex-professional climber Magnus Mitbo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyya23MPoAI

    They solo a relatively easy climb together, and it shows just how much mentality plays into solos. Magnus is actually a much stronger climber than Honnold is, but you'd never guess it watching this video.

    7 votes
  4. smoontjes
    Link
    More stupid than impressive. /noise

    More stupid than impressive.

    /noise

    1 vote