There are many types of climbing – ice climbing, bouldering, solo climbing, and mountaineering, to name a few. But there is arguably one type that stands above the rest regarding sheer danger and jaw-dropping spectacle, and that’s “Buildering.” 

But What is Buildering?

Buildering, is when a person climbs on the outside of a building without the aid of any safety gear. Those who practice such a sport face many obstacles besides the skyscraper they must ascend. These include ever-changing weather conditions, Slick and smooth surfaces, and the long arm of the law waiting for them at the top. 

Here, we’ll get a foothold on what really drives these men and women to scale the urban landscape. Why their next step up may be their last, and how they deal with being locked when they reach their incredible goal. 

But Why Climb Skyscrapers

Why would any sane person risk their life to climb a tall building? That’s the question most would ask as they see a tiny speck of a person twenty or so floors up. In truth, that’s a difficult question to answer, for it can be personal for each of the practitioners. 

Some enjoy the freedom of the experience, not tethered and able to move and flow without restraint. Others find it a mental challenge rather than a physical one, although you need to be in peak physical shape to try it. Extreme focus and being in tune with everything around you are essential for success. Still others take it as a spiritual experience, a way to hone their skills to perfection. The reasons are varied and personal for most, while some answer “because it’s there” as a reason to climb. 

Tackling The Titans

It should go without saying that climbing a skyscraper without ropes is not for beginners, intermediate, or even advanced climbers. An urban climber needs to be in the expert stage of their climbing career. Buildering employs numerous muscles throughout the entire body. When training to scale the concrete and steel behemoths, a person needs to train rigorously to prepare for their ascent. This is done both in a climbing gym as well as in-home exercises. This includes finger hangs, finger pull-ups, finger planks, lateral pull-ups, incline pushups, and more. 

Overcoming Your fear

Aside from the herculean physical prowess needed to climb upward, it also takes extreme nerves of steel. Any slight hesitation or instances of fear coming across the climber could mean certain death. Truthfully, any height above fifty feet is instant death. With only a bag of chalk and a pair of trusty climbing shoes to aid them, “Builldering” practitioners use any minor holding points on the buildings that they can find, including window frames and narrow ledges. 

Climbing a building with a repetitive design also offers little rest time for the climber. Unlike other climbing types that provide a varied landscape of holds, ledges, and protrusions. As the climber ascends higher, they are subject to increased wind speeds and changing weather conditions such as rain and the sun’s intensity beating down upon them. 

Breaking the law

If a climber successfully reaches the top of a building, they will have to face their next challenge, which is most likely being arrested. Yes, climbing a building equates to criminal trespass, and a climber could be charged with first–, second-, or third-degree trespass. This will occur if you don’t have permission from the building’s owner, which is uncommon. These misdemeanor charges could very well turn into felony charges in some cases also. 

Laws vary by state, so if you decide that you’re going buildering, be sure to review the rules where they stand so you know the legal risks before taking your first handhold on the structure. Additionally, knowing that country’s laws are an absolute must if you travel to another country to tackle a legendary building. What may be a slap on the wrist in the United States could be much worse abroad, and jail time in that country is certainly possible. 

The Consequences of Falling

The most famous at Buildering, is Alan Roberts, who has been climbing almost all his life and has an extremely long list of buildering accomplishments over his sixty-plus-year life. Known as “the French Spider-Man,” Roberts has climbed some of the most famous buildings and skyscrapers on the planet, including the Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building, the Burj Khalifa, the Petronas Tower, and the Eiffel Tower, to name just a few. 

But with all his successes were quite several falls. Naturally, none were life-ending but severe, nonetheless. He has fallen from heights ranging from six feet to forty-nine feet, incurring numerous injuries. He fractured his wrists, his elbow, his heels, and his pelvis. He broke his nose several times, had numerous operations throughout his life, and spent time in a coma, along with months in the hospital. So, yes, even the best in the business fall. 

Ready to Climb? Think Again

Although it may seem thrilling, climbers who scale buildings equate to a tiny percentage of overall climbers worldwide. It takes a unique and seldom-achieved combination of physical prowess, mental toughness, an A-tier “Skillset,” and the understanding that they could go to jail and have a criminal record. However, the people who climb buildings are awe-inspiring and, to most people, can be appreciated with their feet firmly on the ground.