I got my new stand out today and practiced putting it up. The first attempt didn't go so well, but try number 2 only took me a couple of minutes. I can see though that I am going to have to rig a pulley system to help me get the stand up the tree and hold it steady so that I can get it in place.

I only put it a couple of feet off of the ground, but when I got in it and bounced around a little, it didn't move at all. It didn't make any noise either. All in all, it seems to be a very reliable stand. I'm a little more confident using it now.

I'll keep practicing putting it up until I'm really comfortable doing it.