A telescoping ladder, comprising: a first stile, a second stile, the first and second stiles (14, 16) each having a plurality of columns disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion along an axis of the plurality of columns between a fully-extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, each column having a hollow body, such that when the ladder is collapsed from the fully-extended position, each column substantially nests within another column; a plurality of rungs extending between the first stile and the second stile, each rung connected to a column of the first stile and a column of stile the second stile, each rung having a hollow body; a plurality of connector assemblies, each connector assembly comprising a latch assembly having a locking pin moveable between an extended position or a retracted position for extending into or retracting out of openings of the adjacent columns to selectively lock or release the columns respectively, wherein when the each locking pin is in the extended position, the adjacent columns are selectively locked, and relative axial movement between the adjacent columns is prevented and when each locking pin is in the retracted position, the adjacent columns are released and relative axial movement between the adjacent columns is permitted; and a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls (120, 122) perpendicular to the bottom wall, the side walls (120, 122) each being shaped so as to define a ramp surface, each locking pin having a transverse pin passing therethrough, the transverse pin being slidable on the ramp surface of a corresponding actuator so as to provide a slidable engagement of the locking pin and the corresponding actuator, whereby the slidable engagement of each locking pin and the corresponding actuator permitting retraction of each locking pin so as to permit relative axial movement between the adjacent columns connected to each locking pin, whereby the plurality of actuators permit collapsing the ladder in a sequential manner, the sequence involving collapsing the columns on a lower portion of the ladder prior to collapsing columns immediately thereabove characterized in that the ramp surface is recessed in the side walls (120, 122). a first stile, a second stile, the first and second stiles (14, 16) each having a plurality of columns disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion along an axis of the plurality of columns between a fully-extended position and a collapsed position, wherein, each column having a hollow body, such that when the ladder is collapsed from the fully-extended position, each column substantially nests within another column; a plurality of rungs extending between the first stile and the second stile, each rung connected to a column of the first stile and a column of stile the second stile, each rung having a hollow body; a plurality of connector assemblies, each connector assembly comprising a latch assembly having a locking pin moveable between an extended position or a retracted position for extending into or retracting out of openings of the adjacent columns to selectively lock or release the columns respectively, wherein when the each locking pin is in the extended position, the adjacent columns are selectively locked, and relative axial movement between the adjacent columns is prevented and when each locking pin is in the retracted position, the adjacent columns are released and relative axial movement between the adjacent columns is permitted; and a plurality of actuators, each actuator having a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls (120, 122) perpendicular to the bottom wall, the side walls (120, 122) each being shaped so as to define a ramp surface, each locking pin having a transverse pin passing therethrough, the transverse pin being slidable on the ramp surface of a corresponding actuator so as to provide a slidable engagement of the locking pin and the corresponding actuator, whereby the slidable engagement of each locking pin and the corresponding actuator permitting retraction of each locking pin so as to permit relative axial movement between the adjacent columns connected to each locking pin, whereby the plurality of actuators permit collapsing the ladder in a sequential manner, the sequence involving collapsing the columns on a lower portion of the ladder prior to collapsing columns immediately thereabove characterized in that the ramp surface is recessed in the side walls (120, 122).