RE: near fall
Paul[/align][/align]Inormally use what is know as climbing gaffs(spikes) to go up the tree, you see them in the timber sport contest where the contestant races up a 100 foot tree trunk and basically falls back down touching every 10 or 15 feet on the way down. Some say they injurea tree, I have been climbing the same trees each season to prune them for over 20 years and have never had a tree die from climbing spike injury. [/align][/align]To answer your question yes you could use steps or a climber, the rope makes for a easy safe decent in the dark that is the best thing about it, and it acts as a safety harness that will do more than leave you stranded hanging in a tree if you can't get your footing or back onyour stand[/align][/align]Paul[/align]