Ladders are normally used to scale heights, rather than span horizontal gaps, but they're ideal for this purpose, especially in hard to reach places.  Ladders are often used to traverse rock faces in remote areas as they are very portable and adaptable, and easy to fix into rock.  That's why anglers in the 1800s used iron ladders to create a walkway along a rock face in Snowdonia National Park, so they could get the best trout fishing in the river below.  The ladder walkway, which is on private property, has become a magnet for people looking for the next popular Instagram post; this popularity has meant that the ladders have become badly damaged, and there has been a huge rise in the amount of litter left in the area.

The exact location of the ladder walk is being kept secret to deter thrill seekers from flocking to the site and causing more damage.  As the structure is over 100 years old it's not safe for people to use en masse, as evidenced by the extent of the damage caused in a few short weeks.  Even people local to the area have been struggling to find it, as it's hidden away behind a gate with a warning sign to put people off venturing further.

This ladder walk reminds us of the ladder hikes in the Grand Canyon, where ladders are used horizontally and vertically to provide a route around some seriously steep rocks.  It's also reminiscent of the Bowder stone ladder in the Lake District, which was replaced a couple of years ago, the original having been installed in the Victorian era as a tourist attraction.  Perhaps if the ladder walk in Snowdonia gets popular enough it will be replaced with a safer option so that more people can enjoy the tucked away view over the river.

The Amangiri resort at Canyon Point, Utah, has recently installed a ladder for tourists looking for stunning views across the Colorado Plateau.  There were already several via ferrata (Italian for “iron road”, used to describe a route made through rock climbs from iron ladders, handholds and ropes which make traversing difficult terrain safer, but the addition of the Cave Peak Stairway offers guests another exciting climb. 

The stairway is more like a ladder, using rungs rather than full-size steps, with metal cable handrails for added security.  It is just over 60 metres long and spans a gap 122 metres above the canyon floor.  Installing the ladder involved flying some components by helicopter, and some very advanced anchoring technology to safely fix the ladder in place.  Made from metal it is heavy enough on its own, but it needs to be able to take the weight of several tourists as well.  With a long drop from the middle of the structure it was vital that it was fixed securely so it can withstand the loading, as well as the exposure to the weather.

The Cape Peak Stairway is thought to be the longest of its kind in the Northern hemisphere, so keen photographers, climbers and adventure seekers should make a note to visit Utah when international travel is back on the cards.  In the meantime, you could seek out the ladder walk in Snowdonia, but remember to be respectful of the environment and to take care when using the ladders, as they could be dangerous to walk on due to the recent damage.