Urban Climbing Stunt on NYC Tower Ignites Debate

Last Thursday (June 5), renegade urban climber Alain Robert, 45, made the first-ever attempt on the 52-story New York Times building in midtown Manhattan in the name of global warming, only to be trailed by copycat climber Renaldo Clarke. Both men face charges of reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct.

"We can’t celebrate it because it is dangerous—and it’s illegal," said Joe Iurato, editor of New York-based Urban Climber magazineUrban Climber magazine to the Associated Press this weekend. "But some people have a strong urge to climb—even when there aren’t any mountains in their back yards."

To get a better understanding of what motivates French Spider-Man Alain Robert, we’ve pulled an interview from our the December 2007/January 2008 issue of ADVENTURE.

Continue reading this story and weigh in with your thoughts on the debate>>