So, I grew up in Rochester during the 60s & 70s. The rumor was that the Valentis used to bury the bodies in those muck potato fields along Pinnacle Road. They were always running tractors across them turning over the dirt.
So, our rule is that the ladder needs to be tied off or someone needs to be holding it at the top or bottom. But first, all the legs need to be firmly on a flat surface.