Rush Creek: to follow up my previous post about an alternate method of climbing/descending with the Lone Wolf Hand Climber: I face away from the tree for both climbing and descending.

Once I move the platform 12-15" up or down, I stand on the platform and face the tree to move the seat and harness. I then sit on the seat (facing away from the tree) to move the platform again.

One other modification: since the stabilizer straps are vital to both ascending and descending with this method, I wrapped some camo duct tape around the platform surfaces where the straps attach so that the rough cast aluminum surface does not wear through the strap.