Have to admit, I do not use safety lines for climbing ladder stands. . . . . Never going to happen. Life is full of risks. That's one of mine.
While I agree that living is full of risks, as your friend, I encourage you to re-evaluate the risks of ladder stands. You may have a false sense of security with them, and it only takes one small miscalculation to fall head-first @ 15 feet onto hard ground.
Until a few years ago, I never wore a harness while in a ladder stand, much less had a lifeline. But missing a step only about 10 feet off the ground (while descending) taught me a valuable lesson. I could have easily have landed on my head, but was just lucky to land on my feet, my only injury being a broken foot (and 3 broken toes). I believe my tightly laced snake boots prevented a broken ankle.
I now better see the merits in using lifelines on ladder stands, but admit, I don't have them on all, mainly just the taller ones, but plan to start using them 100%. I do use a safety harness while sitting, never mind entering & exiting may be the riskier times.
I had a friend last year who broke his femur with a 4-ft fall from a ladder stand, and he was using a lifeline! His foot slipped, and he fell, with his leg hung between the rungs. Not sure if the lifeline helped, but may have prevented his head from banging the ground.
