• Alex Honnold postponed his rope-free ascent of Taipei 101 after rain made surfaces too wet.
  • Netflix will stream the climb live but will use a 10-second delay for safety.
  • The 508m tower climb has three stages: sloping steel/glass, eight “bamboo” sections, then the spire.
  • Honnold’s climb was rescheduled to Sunday; safety remains the top priority.

Rain forces delay to Honnold’s rope-free Taipei 101 attempt

Alex Honnold, the American climber known for his 2017 rope-free ascent of El Capitan, has postponed his planned rope-free climb of Taipei 101 after rain left the building’s exterior too wet for a safe attempt.

Honnold announced the delay on Saturday, saying: “Sadly it’s raining in Taipei right now so I don’t get to go climbing.” Organizers confirmed the climb has been rescheduled for Sunday, citing safety concerns.

What the climb involves

Taipei 101 rises 508 metres (1,667 ft) and is constructed from steel, glass and concrete. Its design includes eight stacked sections with slight overhangs meant to resemble bamboo joints.

Netflix, which will stream the event live, outlined that the climb will consist of three stages. The first stage is an initial 113m section of sloping steel and glass. The second stage takes Honnold up the eight “bamboo” boxes. The final stage involves scaling the tower’s spire to the very top.

Live stream and safety measures

Netflix confirmed it will broadcast the climb live but with safety measures in place. Jeff Gaspin, a Netflix executive, told Variety the platform will implement a 10-second delay and will cut away if necessary. “Safety remains our top priority,” Netflix said when announcing the delay.

Honnold, 40, is married and a father of two. His 2017 El Capitan free solo was documented in the film Free Solo, which won an Academy Award, and cemented his standing among elite climbers and the public.

Previous skyscraper climbs

Taipei 101 has been climbed before. In 2004, French climber Alain Robert — who calls himself “Spiderman” — reached the top using a safety belt and rope, completing the ascent in around four hours.

Honnold’s rope-free attempt differs in that it uses no protective gear. That makes weather and surface conditions a critical factor in timing the climb.

What to expect next

Organizers say the attempt will proceed once conditions improve. The new window is Sunday, subject to weather. Viewers planning to watch the Netflix skyscraper live stream should expect the platform’s brief delay and possible cutaways if conditions change.

For now, Honnold and the team are prioritizing safety over schedule. If the climb goes ahead, it will join a short list of high-profile, rope-free urban ascents and will draw global attention through the live broadcast.

Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rm135lnneo