in fig1 is shown a preferred embodiment 10 of the present invention as installed on a typical tree . tubular member 12 is seen to comprise an upper portion 14 , a lower portion 16 , and a mid - span portion 18 . in this embodiment , tubular member 12 is made of square by 0 . 078 &# 34 ; wall steel tubing which has been found to have suitable properties of strength , stiffness and weight for the application . the hidden reference surface 15 is shown to be held tightly against the tree 30 by binding means 25 which include strap 26 . it will be appreciated that installation on a utility pole or any similar stationary entity is also feasible . substantially horizontal seat 20 and a platform 22 are eccentrically mounted to upper portion 14 at an oblique angle with respect to reference surface 15 . it will be noted that right and left foot supporting elements 23l and 23r are mounted to tubular member 12 in an ladder arrangement so that a person climbing to platform 22 will follow a central path with respect to reference surface 15 . being obliquely offset from the ladder path in this manner , platform 22 is made easily accessible and hand grip 24 is provided to further enable a safe transition . binding means 25 is tightly tensioned so that reference surface 15 is pressed against the surface of tree 30 with considerable force . platform 22 is of a size that would allow a 250 pound man to stand with his weight centered approximately 26 &# 34 ; away from reference surface 15 . it can readily be shown that the 6 , 250 lb - in bending moment thus imposed upon tubular member 12 is well within safe limits . it can also be shown that , with an assumed coefficient of friction of 0 . 5 and a binding tension of 4 , 000 lbs ., platform 22 is adequately stabilized by an 8 &# 34 ; long contact patch . in normal use , tubular member 12 contacts tree 30 over a much greater length , so that less tension is actually needed . when the tree profile is somewhat concave , so as to establish an even longer contact patch , or when lower end portion 16 is pressed into contact with ground 40 , the tension requirement is further reduced . an optional moment bearing joint 32 may be included in the mid - span portion 18 so that tubular member 12 may be broken down for portability . this feature is not essential to the invention , but is an attractive enhancement for some users . a detailed view of moment bearing joint 32 is shown in fig2 where it is seen to be made for telescoping assembly . reduced section 34 , sized for a close fit , acts as a fixed extension to upper section 35 of tubular member 12 and engages lower section 33 thereof . the length 36 of reduced section 34 is sufficient to carry bending moments such as are imposed on tubular member 12 . the friction of the close fit of section 34 within lower section 33 keeps moment bearing joint 32 together during installation . as binding means 25 is tightened , the consequential bending forces increase this retaining friction greatly but , for absolute safety , retaining pin 37 is inserted through matching pin holes 39a and 39b in lower section 33 and reduced section 34 respectively . retaining pin 37 is attached to lower section 33 by chain 38 so as to be readily at hand . fig3 shows how the moment bearing joint 32 permits demounting of tubular member 12 so that upper section 35 and lower section 33 can be carried as an adjacent , parallel package held by strap 26 . hook attachment 49 hooks back onto strap 26 which then serves as a sling . fig4 depicts the workings of binding means 25 which , in this embodiment comprises an assembly normally used for cargo tie - down applications by freight handlers . binder frame 50 is seen to be placed against tree 30 with strap 26 passing thereabout . strap end 26a is secured to hook attachment 49 and strap end 26b is doubled over and passed through split pin 60 . binder frame 50 includes anchor pin 52 to which hook attachment 49 is latched . split pin 60 , along with ratchet 58 , are a sub - assembly which is rotatably mounted within binder frame 50 and normally locked from doing so by spring 56 and the engagement of safety pawl 54 . spring 66 urges tensioning pawl 64 into engagement with ratchet 58 so that tensioning lever 62 can rotate split pin 60 for tightening strap 26 . it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment , but is fully capable of rearrangement , modification and substitution of parts within the spirit of the invention .