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.
| 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) ↓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
3971 | Battelle Memorial Institute | SS cable, ribbed oval Al rungs, top & bottom crimps, eye protectors | NSS Consignbment Sales/Benjamin D Brown, 2025 | 11 | 34 | 305 | 155 | 19.5(h) x 13(w) | 1.8 | 3.3 |
 |
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 |
 |
3905 | Liberty Mountain | SS cable, Al rungs, internal crimp, Brummel hooks | On Rope 1, 2023 | 10 | 298 | 146 | 15 | 15 | 2.1 | 3.2 |
 |
3813 3315 3316 3317 3874 |
Pierre Allain | SS cable, Al rungs, internal crimp, Brummel hooks |
|
10 | 32 | 304 | 143 | 14 | 0.9 | 2.8 |
 |
3812 | Pittsburgh Grotto | Steel cable, Al rungs, top & bottom crimps, eye protectors | Pittsburgh Grotto | 10 | 33 | 305 | 165 | 13 | 1.7 | 3.3 |
 |
3811 | Storrick | SS cable, Al rungs, top & bottom crimps, eye protectors | Gary D. Storrick, 1975 | 16 | 51 | 305 | 165 | 13 | 1.6 | 3.3 |
 |
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 |
 |
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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