Rick, yes... with this particular set, I would be stepping up probably six inches or so onto the platform. It's either step up on the way up and step DOWN after your hunt, or vice versa. You usually can't do both each time... The advantage to having the steps extend up on past the stand is that the user can always maintain at least two points of contact while climbing -- or, in this case, stepping onto the platform.

If I wanted to step up after the hunt before beginning my descent, it's a simple matter of grabbing the top two steps with my hands, stepping UP onto the bottom step of that top stick, and then working my way down.

If it bothered me to step up those six inches or so onto the platform -- even though I was holding the top two steps with both hands as well -- I could simply flip all the steps 180 degrees with the Lone Wolf climbing steps. But that step is no different than the other steps when climbing the sticks all the way from the ground up to your hunting height... and with the steps extending beyond the height of the platform, it's just as safe as every other step you've made up to that point.