Netflix Inc. is pushing deeper into live programming with what may be its riskiest bet yet: a real-time climb of a 101-story skyscraper in Taipei — without ropes nor a safety net.

That climber is Alex Honnold, who in June 2017 climbed the Freerider route without ropes or protective gear. His ascent was completed in 3 hours and 56 minutes and remains one of the most consequential achievements in the history of climbing. It was documented in the Academy Award-winning film Free Solo.

Alex Honnold, the rock climber who famously scaled Yosemite's El Capitan without ropes, will try his hand at a 1,667-foot skyscraper in a spectacle aired live on Netflix.

Few climbers take on this niche pursuit, where one mistake could mean death. Three of them talk about its unique mental and physical demands.