Even if you're not a fan of documentaries, chances are you're familiar with Free Solo. The critically acclaimed film follows Alex Honnold as he ascends El Capitan without ropes, harnesses, or protective gear.
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The 2018 film not only made the rock climber a household name but also grossed nearly $30 million at the box office and set viewing records on the National Geographic Channel. It also won in the Best Documentary Feature category at the Academy Awards.
Now, Honnold is preparing for another historic feat—only this time, he'll be climbing nearly 1,700 ft to the top of Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Even better, you won't have to wait for a documentary to watch it. Details are below.
Why Does Alex Honnold Want To Climb Taipei 101?
Climbing skyscrapers has attracted many daredevils, from Alain Robert, dubbed "The French Spider-Man," to Dan Goodwin, who scaled the World Trade Center. Tom Cruise also famously scaled part of the Burj Khalifa in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
So why is Alex Honnold shifting from rock formations to glass windows and concrete? He explained the allure of free soloing Taipei 101 in Netflix's newsletter, Tudum.
"It's uniquely suited for climbing," he said. "Now, because it's really hard to get permission to climb a building and I have permission, I have to take advantage of it and climb the building. Basically, it's just rare to get this kind of opportunity, so you gotta jump when you can.
Honnold has never climbed a skyscraper, but he seems confident he can reach the top.
"I'm sure I'll feel a little nervous at the bottom, just because it's something totally new and I don't know how it's going to feel," he shares. "I've spent 30 years climbing rock faces; this is going to be my first big handmade structure, so I'm sure it'll feel a little different."
