I would go with ladder, personally. Get in there in the summer, haul that thing out there with a saw, and take out any branches you need to on any of your stands (except for ones in bedding areas). If you have no other choice, go with screw in steps. If you're stuck on one particular point, you can always take out one from your backpack and screw it in. Better than falling to your doom and cracking your neck in half.