or ladder as they can swing in and swat you. That alone could ruin your day.
Egon said:They can also knock you off the ladder. When you are standing on the top of an 8 foot step ladder that can mean a hard landing!!! If you climb higher in the the tree to cut branches they can also knock the ladder over leaving you up a tree without a ladder!!! Yes, I've been guilty of both. I learn slowly. A Darwin candidate.
The others have not mentioned wind. Factor that in when cutting.
Me, I'd try my darnedest to plan a way around the tree with the path. Coming from the Prairies it's almost a cardinal sin to cut maple.