Regarding spurs being hard on people, hmmm, and this rope humping way isn't? Hasn't been? C'mon. Ladders, never used one on a tree, ever, thousands of trees later. I have used a variety of ladders in construction. I guess the difference being is that in construction ladders are usually placed against something solid. They are usually placed on something solid as well, ie. concrete, level wood floors. As opposed to being placed against something that can sway in the wind, move from the force of a man climbing the ladder, might be slimy and slippery. And placed on something often less than solid, uneven ground, snow, mud, etc. Many old guys still climbing, on spurs, that started before spurs became the bogeyman. Yes spurs are harder on the tree, no doubt. But my first concern is never the tree.