On this blog, we are no strangers to tales of stupidity, bravery and some uses of ladders that totally defy expectations, and here are a few more stories that are no exception.  We just wish The Ladder Association were still taking nominations for their ladder losers and ladder winner competition, but perhaps these could be eligible to get an honourable mention in this year’s contest.  Our first tale of amazing ladder use comes from Pakistan, where a toddler was filmed making his way down a ladder that would make most people think twice about even using it.  He can’t be more than three years old, but already he is skilled at descending from the ladder which features rungs spaced so far apart, and unevenly, that even experienced ladder users would have to pay close attention.

Starting from the top of the very tall ladder, which is leaning outside the boy’s home, he descends at an alarming rate, and to the untrained eye he looks like he is falling.  He is, however, in total control all the way down, using his forearms on the rungs and his knees to guide him as he comes down the ladder at speed.  When he reaches the bottom, his father picks him up, unconcerned for his safety as the boy is clearly a natural at ladder climbing and not in any danger.  It is quite thought provoking, as children of that age in the UK would rarely be allowed near a ladder, let alone up one without a parent.  Perhaps this worry is unfounded, as this child at least has proven to be fearless and capable.

They say age is just a number, and that there is no substitute for experience; the Pakistani toddler may be a good 18 years younger than the man in our next tale but he already knows his way around a ladder, despite his young age.  The man in question is thought to be a college student, and we can only hope he is not studying any discipline that involves problem solving.  Having managed to get an item of clothing caught on an overhead pipe, the man decides to use a step ladder to retrieve it.  All very straightforward on paper, but he doesn’t simply set the ladder up, which is tall enough to reach, and climb up it.  Instead, he holds the closed stepladder aloft and uses it to try and snag the clothing to bring it down.  He eventually manages it, but not before a few onlookers have had a good laugh at his expense!

Our final tale about the Chinese villagers in Zhongtuan bring us the most daring ladder story by far, even more astounding than that of the toddler.  To celebrate a harvest festival which occurs every three years, the men of the village engage in an eight-metre ladder climb; a practice which dates back many hundred years in Fuijan province.  This is no ordinary ladder, however, as it is made of thirty-six sharpened knives, which stick out from the sides of a central pole, and the climb must be done bare foot.  At the top is a chair upon which the first person to reach sits on and hands out rewards to those who follow and make it up to the top of the perilous ladder.  No one was injured during the celebration, which must take a lot of courage to complete.  Although we would certainly never recommend that anyone tries this at home, we can’t help but having some admiration for their bravery and the skill it no doubt takes to achieve the climb without any cuts.