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How did people climb Mount Everest before there were ladders?

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Well ladders are mostly just used on the North Ridge's three steps, and over crevasses in the Khumbu. The rest is fixed ropes, and special mechanical ascenders. My source for this is the phenomenal Into the Silence by Wade Davis. read more

Prior to those attempts, there were two possible but unverified ascents that might have been achieved without ladders. A Chinese team claimed to have summited in 1960 but were widely disbelieved because they could not produce a summit photo. read more

But there was still the regular sound of a ball smashing through a greenhouse whenever the movements of the glacier cracked the ice on one of the many frozen pools. With all that racket, I can’t say I slept well while at Base Camp! Ladders. One of the famous features of climbing Everest are the ladders used to cross crevasses. read more

But climbing Mt. Everest has become so popular — about 150 people reach the top on the best days — that mountaineering officials are considering installing a ladder from the Hillary Step to the summit to avoid overcrowding. read more

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