AMID SKYSCRAPERS, Hong Kong – Remarkably, Alain Robert of France goes where no one else dares – up the outside of the world’s tallest buildings. This one-of-a-kind urban climber uses no ropes, hooks or safety gear.

“It’s dangerous,” he says, “but ordinary life’s dangerous too. In everything we do, there’s potential risk.

“Once, I was afraid of heights. But I decided that instead of living with my fears, I’d reach for a goal to become more courageous. Instead of failing to live, I moved forward by climbing – not using ropes, but without safety devices, which is unusual.”

This week, Alain, nicknamed “the real Spiderman”, visited Hong Kong to launch an autobiography, With Bare Hands (2008, Blacksmith Books, 306 pages).

“It’s an incredible thing he does,” said Blacksmith Books boss Pete Spurrier. “It makes for an incredible and scary story, but it’s inspiring, even funny, too. Alain couldn’t take such risks without a sense of humor.”

A day after meeting with readers at a Bookazine store, Alain scaled another lofty building, the Four Seasons Hotel, as a stunt to lift awareness of global warming. “Hong Kong has plenty of tall buildings, for sure,” he said. On previous visits, he climbed others.

Forty-five-year-old Alain, who weighs just 52 kg, simply ignores vertigo. He’s climbed about 80 skyscrapers in dozens of cities. Clearly, he’s never fallen too far.

“Sometimes people compare me to Bruce Lee or to a little Arnold Schwarzenegger,” Alain said, stressing the need for strength and determination. He trains by practicing and “eating properly. I have a climbing wall at home and do a little jogging too.”

But is he insane? “No,” Alain smiled, responding calmly. “A crazy person is one who doesn’t follow his dreams.”

Using only powder on his hands for a better grip, Alain has conquered the Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur), Taipei 101, the Sears Tower (Chicago), Canary Wharf (London) and many more. “Usually I climb from the bottom to the top,” he said. “Sometimes I climb down too.”

The Sears Tower delivered a scare when the weather turned misty and wet. Holding on became extra-difficult, Alain’s confidence ebbed and he expected to fall. He dislikes strong winds too.

“Sometimes I meet problems on an ascent, but I must find a way,” he said. “If there’s no solution right away, then I’m dead.

“Before every ascent, there’s a fear factor. But once I start to climb, I’m focused and have no time to think of fear.”

Yet a few times, Alain has started to climb, but changed his mind and returned to the ground. “If I decide it’s the wrong kind of day and climb down, then I’ll return and do it later.”

Not every building can be climbed. In advance, Alain studies them with binoculars, looking for grooves, ridges and recesses. “I just need something to grab. But since buildings are man-made, they’re not as regular or perfect as they look. Some have impossible sections. They’re too smooth, and there’s no point trying to climb them. In Hong Kong, the Bank of China’s like that. I could try using suction cups, but that’s not my technique. My way is with just my bare hands.”

Clutching at sharp edges and rough corners scrapes his hands. Muscles in his forearms take a huge strain. Does anyone else dare to attempt such climbs? “I’ve never heard of anyone so I don’t think so,” Alain said.

He’s gained fame and raised money for charities, but also often been arrested on trespassing or reckless endangerment charges. “But people selling junk food endanger the public too,” he said.

Alain’s gone to jail in several countries, sometimes after beatings from the arresting officers. “I like to play with life, and I enjoy freedom, even if sometimes I go to jail,” he said. “That just means there’s a price for the freedom.”

When Alain approaches some famous skyscrapers, the security guards follow him, intent to prevent more urban mountaineering. At times he waits until one security guard goes right, another left, and then darts between them. Once he’s climbing, no one can interfere.

Earlier in his career, Alain focused on rock-faces. Eventually, he graduated to buildings.

He’s married and has three sons, aged 20, 18 and 14 years. When young, the children climbed a little, but then stopped.

“Maybe it’s selfish for me to still climb and live my life the way I love,” Alain said. “But my family doesn’t ask me to stop. This is something we don’t discuss much at home.

“My wife used to watch sometimes, but not so much anymore. She works in France, and it’s complicated for her to travel.

“I’ve climbed all my life. It’d be difficult for me to stop. I’d have to change not only my way of life, but also my way of thinking.”

Eventually, the physical limitations of age may deter him. “If I don’t think too much about what I’ll do in 10 years, it’s fine,” Alain said, vowing to continue for “maybe another five years.

“Honestly, I meet people and discover cultures around the world. That’s a reward too,” he said. “By climbing, I’ve met both national presidents and jail inmates. People may think that jail’s such a bad punishment, but it’s also something different. At times, I can appreciate just lying on a bed or on the ground and discussing things with some nice guys, really authentic people.

“You know, once I spoke to (former French president) Jacques Chirac, but he didn’t have much to say -- just simple chit-chat. We didn’t go into a deep conversation.

“In jail, it’s much deeper. You learn more about people’s lives. The inmates are much more sincere.”

For more information: www.alainrobert.com


Can 'the real Spiderman' scale tall buildings
as fast as the world constructs them?

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