HF pole saw doesn't suck

Nope, sitting on the ground with hooks over the line and a gaff strap over the strand up top. That's how we Telco guys roll...for the past 100 years. Its called a midspan: used when hanging a midspan drop or working on a midspan splice. And the span is strong, 1/4 steel elevator cable the CATV and telco is lashed to, you can hang on it. I got a deerstand I can attach to the 3rd and 4th rung that is a little flat wooden platform so I'm not on the rungs for 2 hours. There is also a hoop that we attach to the strand and then rest our ladder in it so we are standing past the strand instead of on top of it. then you just turn 180 on the stand and your facing the splice at chest level. We're all strapped in so....Its a living.
@Phreakish , they pay me $316 a day to climb ladders rigged like this! :D