I usually attach my harness once I'm getting ready to hang the stand. That way all I have to do once the stand is hung is loosen up the tether a little bit, and slide it up the tree, tighten her down again and we're ready to hunt. That's about as safe as it can get without sitting on the ground all the time. I'm glad people post these things up - I don't like the circumstances that people remember to post these things, but it's good to hear none-the-less. I'm glad to hear you made it down ok as well. That could've ended very very badly. Falling and hitting the forest floor is one thing, falling and landing on your stand is another.