Normally, when we report on an epic ladder climb, it's because of a charity fundraising effort.  Ladder climbs are a popular way of raising cash, whether the aim is to climb the equivalent height of Everest or Ben Nevis.  Lots of firefighters do ladder climbs to raise money for the Firefighters Charity; it's also a popular option for families and group climbs as you don't need a lot of space or equipment apart from a ladder or two.

The latest big climb to catch our eyes was in Canada, where a team of 39 miners became trapped underground after the lift was damaged by a heavy bucket lifting materials to the surface.  The Totten mine in Sudbury, Ontario, was well prepared for such an eventuality with refuge stations at points which could be reached by the secondary ladder rescue system. 

It took three days for every miner to make their way out of the mine, with rescue workers descending with food and supplies for those still waiting.  As the ladder system passes through narrow shafts it can't be used by everyone at the same time, so some miners had to wait their turn, supported by those sending supplies down.

Some miners only had to climb 1,800 feet (548 metres) but those trapped at the lower levels had an epic 4,000 feet (1.2 km) climb to do before they reached the surface.  To put this into context, that's an eighth of the height of Everest this is equivalent to the climb achieved by each member of a 7-person fire-fighting team when they undertake similar feats for charity.  When fire-fighters do this for charity they train ahead of time, and are already experienced in the use of ladders.  The miners had to undertake this task without specialist ladder training or the chance to get fit and train up beforehand, making it even more of an amazing tale of endurance.

The miners and the rescue team members were checked over by medical professionals when they emerged and were monitored for some time to ensure there were no ill effects from the climb or from spending days underground.  It is testament to the safety precautions in place at this mine that the workers were rescued so quickly.  There have been many tales of miners being trapped underground in the last few years, the most notable being the 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days in the cramped darkness in 2010.  Lessons have clearly been learned from this incident. The Totten mine had ladder rescue systems in place as well as highly trained teams on standby to help the rescue efforts.

We hope that no-one has to tackle a ladder climb of this size again unless it's a team effort for charity, and there are proper safety precautions in place, plus the chance to train for the feat.  Next time you're tired after a long day up and down ladders, spare a thought for those 39 miners who had to climb their way out of the mine just to see daylight.