diff --git a/chunk.py b/chunk.py
index 2c345c1..2817979 100644
--- a/chunk.py
+++ b/chunk.py
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ class ChunkRenderer(object):
                         # alone.  additional data is required.
                         # TODO torches, redstone torches, crops, ladders, stairs, 
                         #      levers, doors, buttons, and signs all need to be handled here (and in textures.py)
-                        if blockid in (66,59,61,62): ## minecart track, crops
+                        if blockid in (66,59,61,62, 65): ## minecart track, crops, ladder
                             # also handle furnaces here, since one side has a different texture than the other
                             ancilData = blockData_expanded[x,y,z]
                             t =  textures.generate_special_texture(blockid, ancilData)
diff --git a/textures.py b/textures.py
index 1b7d27c..dbcac8a 100644
--- a/textures.py
+++ b/textures.py
@@ -394,5 +394,33 @@ def generate_special_texture(blockID, data):
         img.paste(top, (0,0), top)
         return (img.convert("RGB"), img.split()[3])
 
+    if blockID == 65: # ladder
+        raw_texture = terrain_images[83]
+        #print "ladder is facing: %d" % data
+        if data == 5:
+            # normally this ladder would be obsured by the block it's attached to
+            # but since ladders can apparently be placed on transparent blocks, we 
+            # have to render this thing anyway.  same for data == 2
+            tex = _transform_image_side(raw_texture)
+            img = Image.new("RGBA", (24,24), (38,92,255,0))
+            img.paste(tex, (0,6), tex)
+            return (img.convert("RGB"), img.split()[3])
+        if data == 2:
+            tex = _transform_image_side(raw_texture).transpose(Image.FLIP_LEFT_RIGHT)
+            img = Image.new("RGBA", (24,24), (38,92,255,0))
+            img.paste(tex, (12,6), tex)
+            return (img.convert("RGB"), img.split()[3])
+        if data == 3:
+            tex = _transform_image_side(raw_texture).transpose(Image.FLIP_LEFT_RIGHT)
+            img = Image.new("RGBA", (24,24), (38,92,255,0))
+            img.paste(tex, (0,0), tex)
+            return (img.convert("RGB"), img.split()[3])
+        if data == 4:
+            tex = _transform_image_side(raw_texture)
+            img = Image.new("RGBA", (24,24), (38,92,255,0))
+            img.paste(tex, (12,0), tex)
+            return (img.convert("RGB"), img.split()[3])
+            
+
 
     return None