Plans for Alex Honnold, the prominent professional rock climber, to complete a daring free solo ascent of Taipei 101 in Taiwan have been temporarily halted due to weather concerns. Organizers confirmed that the climb, which necessitates no safety ropes, will be postponed by 24 hours as persistent rain was present less than an hour before the scheduled beginning of the event.
The climb was initially set to take place on Saturday local time and planned for live broadcast on the streaming platform Netflix, catering to audiences in Taiwan as well as the United States, where the broadcast was slated for Friday evening.
Despite preparations for the possibility of light rainfall, the inclement weather rendered the conditions unsafe to proceed on the planned date. Consequently, the event’s start was moved to Sunday morning in Taipei, coinciding with a more optimistic weather forecast predicting clearer skies.
Netflix highlighted that the well-being of the climber is their highest priority, reinforcing that safety considerations guided the decision to delay. On the ground, a crowd numbering around 100 assembled to witness the spectacle firsthand. Among them was Queenie Chang, a local supporter of Honnold’s endeavors, who expressed understanding and readiness to return for the rescheduled climb.
Organizers acknowledged beforehand that while light rain was anticipated on the morning of the ascent, they were prepared to postpone the event if conditions compromised safety. The live airing is now scheduled for Saturday evening in the United States, specifically 5 p.m. Pacific and 8 p.m. Eastern, following the adjustment in Taipei’s local timing.