@Wolfpup RE; 2nd story storm window changing. My first house (the 1912 house) had 30 of those old wooden windows that were changed from screen to storm window every 6 months. Of course the screens weighed nothing but those storm windows being carried up a 28 foot extension ladder…YIKES
Technology can solve a lot of that concern. And at a very reasonable price. Just sayin’
In my 20s I was a chimney sweep. Spent a lot of time running around on all sorts of roofs like a mountain goat, never had a problem. I’m one year shy of 60 now and just looking up at the roof makes me a little dizzy. But still, sometimes there’s business up on the roof that needs attending to. So, up I scramble, stepladder on my shoulder so I can get to the next level. Missus doesn’t like it, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
IMHO, what a man’s gotta do, if a man’s got sense, is to climb up that ladder carrying the end of a rope attached to the stepladder, and then haul the stepladder up while having a firm footing on the roof. A safety belt, again, is very recommended. (This advice also applies to non-men.)
Taking sensible safety precautions doesn’t mean one is decrepit, or unmanly.
The average age of trauma patients due to ladder falls was 55 in this study.
Serious injury or death from ladder falls is relatively commonplace in some occupations, like construction.
A youngish guy in our area died awhile back from a fall off a ladder while he was putting up Xmas lights at his house. He was an ER doc.