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Cable Ladders

I don't collect cable ladders, but I have acquired a few over the years. In my part of the world, people shouldn’t call themselves cavers, let alone vertical cavers, without being comfortable climbing cable ladders. Now somewhat overshadowed by rope techniques or even shunned by the “we don’t need to learn anything invented before 2012” knowledge denyers, Ladders are sometimes the best option for short drops, especially when used by moderate-size groups in hybrid rappel-in, ladder-out systems.

Gallery

Image ID Device ↓ Description Acquired Length (m) ↓ Number
of Rungs ↓
Rung
Spacing (mm) ↓
Rung
Length (mm) ↓
Rung
Diameter (mm) ↓
Rung Wall
Thickness (mm) ↓
Cable (mm) ↓
Happy Wanderers Cave and Pothole Club 3814 Happy Wanderers Cave and Pothole Club Steel cables, resin plugs, Brummel hooks Unknown, ca. 2009? 9.5 30 255 151 13 1.6 3.7
Liberty Mountain 3905 Liberty Mountain SS cable, Al rungs, internal crimp, Brummel hooks On Rope 1, 2023 10 298 146 15 15 2.1 3.2
Pierre Allain 3813
3315
3316
3317
3874
Pierre Allain SS cable, Al rungs, internal crimp, Brummel hooks
  • Michel Sifre, 2009
  • (2) Jeff Brotzge, 2010
  • Bill Wiley, 2022
  • Michael Oatney, 2023
10 32 304 143 14 0.9 2.8
Pittsburgh Grotto 3812 Pittsburgh Grotto Steel cable, Al rungs, top & bottom crimps, eye protectors Pittsburgh Grotto 10 33 305 165 13 1.7 3.3
Storrick 3811 Storrick SS cable, Al rungs, top & bottom crimps, eye protectors Gary D. Storrick, 1975 16 51 305 165 13 1.6 3.3
Unknown, Version A 3875 Unknown, Version A Galvanized Steel Cable, Al rungs, internal plug, plastic end cap, eye protectors Michael Oatney, 2023 10 32 305 155 13 1.8 4.3
Unknown, Version B 3876 Unknown, Version B Galvanized Steel Cable, Al rungs, internal plug crimp, Brummel hooks Michael Oatney, 2023 9 28 308 154 13 1.8 4.3

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