Didn't say anything last week, but my son inlaw needed help putting up a new stand. I have worked high all my life so heights don't bother me. When it came time to climb up and put the strap on the tree I went up to do it. The strap was jammed up, so I told him to throw me another. He got excited and hit the bottom of the ladder to come up part way to hand it to me and it folded the ladder at the first joint. I rode it down and stepped off at the last hitting square on my right foot. Broke the joint on the tibia. The swelling has gone down enough they are going to operate on it tomorrow and screw it back together. Bottom line be careful putting up new stands.

What more can be said. Heal quick.

Bummer, hope you have a fast recovery. Ladder stands feel the safest, but dang I get a bit squirmish first putting them up.

I, for one feel your pain, feel your pain!! I have a broken ankle right now due to someone's carelessness while driving. I fractured a bone in my ankle that needed 2 screws, 4 pins and 8 staples to fix. The doctor said I will not be able to put any weight on my right foot for 6-8 weeks and maybe more pending on my recovery. My season is done for this year. Hope you heal and recover quick!! Keep your spirits up too!!

Dang..that's too bad hope your back on your feet soon and get to hunt some of the season.

WOW Tough break Ben hope everything works out.Your physique may help your recovery hope so.Take care and do not rush it.Kip      

Wow, that does suck. Nuff said. Good luck with the rehab.

I also feel your pain.  I broke my fibula on 8/27 playing rugby.  A plate, seven screws, and 13 staples to close it up.  I hunted our opener on 10/5, but caused it to swell up pretty good.  My problems now are mostly soft tissue because I also tore ligaments. Keep off of it, let it heal, and listen to your doctor.

My wife just had surgery on her right ankle/leg.  She broke her lower tibia and a piece of her fibula. She is sporting a steel plate now.  She is a letter carrier (mailman) and came down a set of broken up concrete steps..  miss stepped and this is what we got.... I haven't been to the woods for 7 days now!
I feel your pain and your family's as well!

Good luck and God Speed.

Rodd

I hope your recovery goes well!

I seems like I've been hearing of more ladder stands folding kind of like your story? Kinda wierd.

Best regards,

Brian

Hate to hear that anyone is hurt either hunting or getting ready to hunt. Surgery is a bummer right now. I pray that all goes well and you are back putting up stands again real soon.    

I hate climbing ladder stands that aren't strapped to the tree. I've started using my ladder stick to put up my ladder stands. I use my lineman's belt and strap the ladder stick to the side about 90 degrees to my ladder stand. I climb up and attach my safety belt to the tree above where the ladder stand will be. Instead of a carabiner, I attach a pulley. I run a rope through the pulley, climb down, and attach it to the top of the ladder stand to which I have already attached the ratchet strap. Then I pull the ladder stand upright and tie off the rope to either the tree or the ladder stick. Then I attach the stand-off for the ladder stand and the safety ropes. I climb the ladder stick and strap the ladder stand to the tree. I remove the rope and replace the pulley with a carabiner. I take the ladder stick apart as I climb down (using the lineman's strap of course). Now my ladder stand is firmly attached to the tree, the ladder stick is on the ground, and I am ready to climb up the ladder stand, attach my safety harness to the tree and see if I need to do any trimming. The older I get the less appeal broken bones have for me.    

Damn Ben, very sorry to hear that. Where are you having the surgery done? Get well soon!

Sorry to hear that KS, but thanks for sharing and the reminder.  Best wishes for a quick and easy recovery.

30coupe, I like your system.  I'm not fond of broken bones, either.  Will have to give it a try.

Bummer Ben. Hope you heal up fast!

Oh man hate to hear that Brother. Hope it goes well and let us know.

Oh man Ben, that's really bad to hear!  Terrible timing for the hunts to come, but I guess a tibia is better than a back or neck.  I hope your surgery goes well.  
I love ladders for the safety and security they offer once they are attached, but they do scare the heck out of me when first setting them. 30coupe's procedure sounds like a better plan for me in the future.

Dang, sorry to hear this! Good luck with your recovery and hopefully you'll get to enjoy some of the season!

Steve

I usually have help tilting them up to the tree but first thing I do is attach the adjustable support bar to the rung 1/2 way up and run it tight to the tree. Then loop a ratchet strap around the tree at the bar level and tighten the ladder up real tight. Then one of us climbs up to take care of the top ratchet strap while the other stays on the ground and steadys it until it's tightened up.

Never a problem.

Get well, and be careful out there!