were stepladders involved?
No, because we only needed to reach the top of the second sphere to get the top one on.
The two bottom spheres only totaled a height just over 6 feet, well within most people's reach... but I have 5 brothers, 4 of which average just over 6 feet tall... and one that is 6 feet and 7 inches. I'm the shortest of my siblings at just under 5'11".
What was tricky, and what is not pictured was the further decoration done by those that couldn't lift giant snowballs onto other snowballs. That did involve some small stepladders. As I recall this snowman eventually ended up with a mangy-looking poof of twigs for a hair-do and I know it got a scarf. Not finding the fully decorated pictures right now, though.