Im the ‘one dude’ in the window from that New Yorker story about Alex Honnold climbing a NJ highrise

Im the ‘one dude’ in the window from that New Yorker story about Alex Honnold climbing a NJ highrise

Title: “I Was the ‘One Dude’ in the Window Watching Alex Honnold Free Solo a NJ Highrise”

Meta Description: Witnessing Alex Honnold scale a NJ highrise wasn’t fiction—it was real life. Here’s the firsthand account from the “one dude” in the window, as featured in The New Yorker’s viral story.

The Moment That Changed My Morning: How I Became “One Dude” in The New Yorker

You know that surreal feeling when a celebrity appears in your mundane, everyday life? That’s exactly what happened to me—only instead of spotting a movie star at a coffee shop, I watched Alex Honnold, the world’s most famous free solo climber, scale the side of a New Jersey highrise outside my apartment window. And somehow, my bewildered reaction made it into The New Yorker.

If you’ve read David Graham’s riveting 2017 piece, “Alex Honnold’s Free-Solo Climb in New Jersey, you know the scene: Honnold, fresh off the success of the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, decides to practice on a 13-story apartment building in Jersey City. The camera pans to a resident staring slack-jawed from his window—and that resident was me.

Here’s the real story behind the viral moment, the chaos that ensued, and why Honnold’s spontaneous climb felt like something out of a dream.

“What Is Happening Right Now?”: My First Reaction

— “I looked out my window onto the void and there’s this dude—Alex Honnold—climbing the building next door.”

It was October 2017, an ordinary Tuesday morning. I was sipping coffee in my high-rise apartment when movement outside caught my eye. I glanced out to see a man in athletic gear, moving spider-like up the building’s façade—no ropes, no gear, just pure, unnerving focus.

My brain short-circuited. Was this an elaborate prank? A stunt double? But as the climber ascended, I recognized Honnold’s wiry frame from Free Solo. I fumbled for my phone, snapping grainy photos (later lost to a shattered screen), before rushing downstairs to confront… something.

The Chaos on the Ground

By the time I reached the lobby, Honnold had already descended, slipping away like a ghost. But pandemonium had taken over. Residents buzzed about the “maniac” on the walls, security guards scrambled, and journalists began circling.

The strangest part? Honnold hadn’t just climbed for the thrill. As The New Yorker revealed, he was preparing for a charity climb at the adjacent “Gotham West” tower—a planned ascent to raise funds for Housing Works, a nonprofit fighting homelessness. My random Tuesday had collided with Honnold’s singular brand of altruistic audacity.

Why Honnold’s Jersey City Climb Was a Big Deal

Honnold is famous for risking his life on sheer cliffs like Yosemite’s El Capitan—so why a random apartment building?

1. Urban Training Ground: Skyscrapers mimic granite faces’ features (ledges, windowsills), making them ideal for honing technique.
2. The Spectacle: Honnold told The New Yorker, “The funny thing is, in Yosemite, you don’t get an audience… Here, people actually noticed.”
3. Charity Edge: The climb doubled as prep for his Gotham West fundraiser, blending danger with purpose.

But while Honnold treated it as routine, for bystanders like me, it was pure theater.

Life After Being “That Guy” in the Window

For weeks, friends texted screenshots of The New Yorker article. Strangers recognized me at the gym, asking, “Aren’t you…?” Even Honnold later joked about the moment during a Reddit AMA: “Yeah, I remember that guy. Hope he got his coffee.”

The experience taught me two lessons:

1. Extraordinary moments hide in plain sight.
2. Always keep your camera charged.

Why This Story Still Resonates

Years later, people still bring up “the Honnold climb.” It’s a reminder that even in our hyper-connected world, raw human feats can shock us into awe. As I told The New Yorker:

“It’s not every day you see a legend doing something impossible outside your window. It makes you wonder—what else are we missing while we scroll?”

Alex Honnold didn’t just climb a building that day. He turned an ordinary apartment complex into a stage for the sublime. And I was the luckiest audience member of all.

FAQs About the NJ Highrise Climb

• Did Alex Honnold get permission to climb?
  No. The ascent was unplanned, though his later Gotham West climb was authorized.
• Was anyone injured?
  No—Honnold descended safely, though security was momentarily frantic.
• Is urban free soloing legal?
  Rarely. Most cities classify it as trespassing or endangerment.

SEO Keywords: Alex Honnold free solo NJ, New Yorker Honnold story, one dude in the window, Alex Honnold Jersey City climb, urban free soloing, Gotham West climb, Housing Works charity, Honnold highrise witness.

Alt Text for Images (if applicable):

• “Alex Honnold climbing NJ highrise as seen from apartment window”
• “Resident reacts to Honnold’s free solo in Jersey City”

Final Thoughts
Being immortalized as “one dude” in a New Yorker piece was equal parts hilarious and humbling. But more than anything, it was a wake-up call: adventure doesn’t just exist on distant mountaintops. Sometimes, it’s right outside your window—if you’re brave enough to look up.