American rock climber Alex Honnold set a new record for the tallest urban free solo in history after scaling Taipei 101 without any safety equipment. He recently shared details about his musical choices during the historic climb in an interview with Variety.
Honnold explained how music played a crucial role in his preparation and execution of the dangerous ascent. It particularly helped him maintain proper pacing throughout the climb.
“It was mostly Tool. It’s a random playlist that I made, that I shared with production. I made it months ago while I was driving. I’ve been training to it a bunch – [it’s] basically, rock music that I’ve liked my whole life,” Honnold said.
The climber revealed that the music served a practical purpose beyond motivation. It helped him track his progress on the world’s tallest skyscraper.
“Part of the appeal of music is that actually it helps me with pacing. Each bamboo box had been taking me about five to six and a half minutes. I just know how long the songs are. So it gives you a sense of if you’re going fast or slow,” he continued.
This revelation provides insight into the meticulous planning behind Honnold’s record-breaking free solo climb of one of the world’s most challenging urban structures.
The 40-year-old climber’s achievement represents a significant milestone in urban free solo climbing history. ESPN reported that Honnold successfully scaled the 1,667-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes or any protective equipment. This marked the tallest urban free solo climb ever recorded.
The climb was streamed live on Netflix. It took Honnold approximately 91 minutes to complete. Climbing Magazine noted that the entire ascent lasted exactly one hour, 31 minutes, and 34 seconds. Upon reaching the summit, Honnold exclaimed “Sick. I’m so psyched!” demonstrating his elation at completing the dangerous feat.
The most challenging portion of the climb involved navigating the building’s distinctive architectural features. The Independent detailed how Honnold had to work around ornate metal dragons while battling high winds on the exposed sections of the skyscraper. The hardest section consisted of 64 floors of “bamboo boxes.” Each required five to six and a half minutes to navigate.
The historic climb showcased not only Honnold’s physical abilities but also his strategic approach to one of the world’s most daring climbing challenges. The combination of his musical pacing system and meticulous preparation enabled him to achieve what many considered impossible in the realm of urban free solo climbing.
