Alex Honnold is getting ready for another dangerous climb. After conquering El Capitan without ropes, he is now set to climb Taipei 101. It is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Just like before, he will do it without safety gear. The climb will be filmed and streamed by Netflix.
His partner will be watching again. This time, though, his life looks very different from when Free Solo came out in 2018. Alex is now married. He is also a father of two.
Alex’s wife is Sanni McCandless. She is a climber too. Many viewers remember her from the documentary. She grew up in North Carolina and studied psychology. She later became a life coach and writer. She also helps run outdoor retreats. The family now lives in Las Vegas.
They first met in 2015. Sanni attended one of Alex’s book events in Seattle. After getting her book signed, she left her phone number behind. A few weeks later, Alex asked her out. Their first date involved pizza and talking for hours.
They were very different people. Alex lived out of a van and focused only on climbing. Sanni had a more traditional life and loved deep conversations. Still, they connected right away.
Six months later, Sanni quit her job and joined Alex on a climbing trip in Europe. They traveled through France and Switzerland. Their relationship kept growing. Even while Alex trained for his biggest climb.
During the filming of Free Solo, Alex once worried the relationship might distract him. He even asked Sanni if they should break up. She told him he did not have to choose between love and ambition.
Alex proposed about a year after the film was released. They married in a small ceremony in September 2020. They renewed their vows in a bigger celebration in 2021.
They welcomed their first daughter, June, in February 2022. Their second daughter, Alice, was born in February 2024. The couple continues to travel and explore with their kids.
Alex often shares moments from their adventures. He says life has changed a lot. But in many ways, it still feels the same.
Alex Honnold’s skyscraper climb will stream live on Netflix on January 23.
