Hi talondale,

When I am setting up a stand, I wear my harness and a waist strap (like a telephone strap).A 3/8"rope is then either tied or sometimes straped to the tree as high as I can reach (while I'm standing in the stand) (waist strap still attached). I also either tie a loop (if I tie the rope to the tree)or attach a steel ring(if I use a strap) and connect a carabiner that is connected to my harness back strap.Oh, you also have to tie the bottom rope so that the rope is faily tout. When everything is set, I can climb with the ascender connected to both waist straps, climb into the tree with the ascender still connested, and clip in my caribiner connected to the back strap. then of course detach the ascender. Never am I not protected.