Climbing Gold Enter the Dragon: Taipei 101 Recap
10 snips
Feb 6, 2026 A debrief of a high-profile Taipei 101 climb with behind-the-scenes stories and broadcast surprises. They describe improvisation, bold campusing moves, and the surreal top-out wind and views. Conversation covers crowd energy, showmanship, scouting challenges like soot and slick residue, media craziness including an SNL spoof, and how attention is being steered toward charitable work.
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Ledgestop Comfort Ritual
- Alex described changing into long johns and a big Antarctic-style puffy after days on El Cap to feel like he was wearing a sleeping bag.
- He loved sitting on the ledge, warm, watching the moon rise as part of his indulgent evening routine.
Embrace The Spectacle To Perform
- Alex shifted his mindset to embrace the spectacle and crowd rather than forcing a normal climbing vibe.
- That reframing helped him slow his pacing and make the climb both safer and more enjoyable.
Slow Pace To Reduce Risk
- Slow your pace on long building climbs because faster equals harder and riskier.
- Use the crowd and spectacle as motivation to take your time and maintain better pacing.