The above photo shows the first 3 steps into a Y-board tree stand using rope steps.  Your stand should be from 12 to 15 feet from the ground, and open up so you have freedom of movement to shoot.  My lowest one is only 8 feet off the ground.  My highest is about 15 feet.  12 feet is ideal in my opinion.  Space your steps no longer than 18" apart, remember when you got wool pants your long johns and jeans on for 20 degree temperature Y-board stand hunting with the cold wind, you don't want to try to get into the stand with  long steps.  Oh, note here on the first two steps I do NOT have plywood with the Duct tape wrapped around it, but all higher ones do.  The reason for that is, if  the step breaks on step 1 or 2 I am only 3 feet from the ground and My feet would hit the ground and not my body, so I don't put the plywood on the bottom steps in all stands.  If teaching young people go the extra mile and use all steps with plywood on it.  Chap