A ladder comprising: a first ladder section including two rails (104, 106) and at least two rungs (108, 110), each rung extending between the two rails (104, 106), the first ladder section including a first ladder section connecting end having a first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520); a second ladder section including at least one rail and having a second ladder section connecting end having a second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520); a female hinge element provided on a first one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends (130, 132) and having an opening, characterized in that the ladder further comprises; a sliding cam element aligned with the opening in the female hinge element and slidably disposed along a rail of the first one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends, the sliding cam element having a body and a handle, wherein said body has a cam surface; and a male hinge element provided on a second one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends and having a transverse connecting element extending transversely from a rail of said ladder section and into the opening in the female hinge element, said transverse connecting element having a cam follower that extends transversely from said transverse connecting element, the cam follower and sliding cam element being located such that the cam follower selectively contacts the cam surface; wherein movement of the sliding cam element to an unlocked position allows the first and second ladder sections (102, 112) to rotate relative to each other while sliding movement of the cam element to a locked position causes relative motion between the cam follower and the cam surface to move the first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) with respect to the second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) in a direction along the male hinge element such that the first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) and the second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) engage each other to prohibit relative rotation between the first and second ladder sections (102, 112). a first ladder section including two rails (104, 106) and at least two rungs (108, 110), each rung extending between the two rails (104, 106), the first ladder section including a first ladder section connecting end having a first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520); a second ladder section including at least one rail and having a second ladder section connecting end having a second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520); a female hinge element provided on a first one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends (130, 132) and having an opening, characterized in that the ladder further comprises; a sliding cam element aligned with the opening in the female hinge element and slidably disposed along a rail of the first one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends, the sliding cam element having a body and a handle, wherein said body has a cam surface; and a male hinge element provided on a second one of the first and second ladder section connecting ends and having a transverse connecting element extending transversely from a rail of said ladder section and into the opening in the female hinge element, said transverse connecting element having a cam follower that extends transversely from said transverse connecting element, the cam follower and sliding cam element being located such that the cam follower selectively contacts the cam surface; wherein movement of the sliding cam element to an unlocked position allows the first and second ladder sections (102, 112) to rotate relative to each other while sliding movement of the cam element to a locked position causes relative motion between the cam follower and the cam surface to move the first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) with respect to the second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) in a direction along the male hinge element such that the first ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) and the second ladder section locking feature (312, 314, 518, 520) engage each other to prohibit relative rotation between the first and second ladder sections (102, 112).