Dutch sand ladder

[[File:Wooden ladder to help climb large sand dune on Desert Sands Trail, Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba.jpg|thumb|A wooden sand ladder installed to help hikers climb a sand dune in Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Manitoba]]

A '''Dutch sand ladder''' is a cable or rope ladder with rungs usually made of wood, lying on a sandy slope to allow persons to ascend or descend with minimal erosion.<ref name="Grist">{{cite magazine |title=Dutch Sand Ladder |url=http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/glhabitat/dune/dutchsandladder.pdf |magazine=Grist |publisher=National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and National Recreation and Park Association |date=Spring 1984 |volume=28 |number=2 |pages=13–15}} Use of Dutch Sand Ladders in Fort Funston. Illustrated.</ref> The bottom end is anchored and the top end is designed for easy disconnection so that the ladder can be lifted up to shake loose any sand that has accumulated on the rungs.<ref name="Grist" /> The ability to be easily maintained and reset makes sand ladders useful trail features for steep sand dunes or other easily eroded areas where permanent structures are infeasible or impractical.<ref name="Grist" />

==References== {{reflist}} * {{cite book |author=Alan Brooks |author2=Elizabeth Agate |url=http://www.summerfieldbooks.com/sand%2Ddunes%2D%2D%2Da%2Dpractical%2Dhandbook%7E2754 |publisher=The Conservation Volunteers |title=Sand Dunes |chapter=Access Management |year=2005 |isbn=0-946752-32-X }} Discussion of Dutch sand ladders, boardwalks, and other walkway constructions for sand dune access management, illustrated

Category:Hiking