You connect your harness to it while your standing on the ground at the base of the tree and slide the prussic knot up while you climb up. Leave it alone while your on the stand, and then slide the knot back down as you decend. You stay connected to that rope the entire time that your off the ground. You do not have to disconnect it and reconnected it to anything else. i use mine with my highpoint climber and I absolutely love mine.