Hi Bruce

Are you familiar with the way Pony Clamps work?

It would save a lot of time in telling you how to make a pair of metal
pole climbing dogs.

Mine are just twin steel plates with an angle iron welded under them
for added support. 1/2 way open they form what looks like a heart,
closed they form a hole shaped like an elipse.
You open them and slip them around the pole and close them, one on
each side. There is a small iron strap the toe of your shoe slips
under. As you lift your foot, you lift the dog, keeping it level.
Before you put your weight on it, it tilts downward slightly, locking
it to the pole. Once it's seated firmly you lift the other foot,
sliding that dog upward keeping it horizontal until it touches the
first then let it tilt downward slightly, locking it to the pole.
Keep repeating this process until you get to the height you want.
Coming down works the same way, lift your foot to unlock it, hold it
horizontal and move it back down the pole, locking it each step of the
way. It locks automatically and easily to the pole.

There is only one axle bolt in each unit that passes through the angle
iron. This allows the top sheet of steel to swing open and shut for
installing it on the pole. Being I'm the nervous type, I drilled two
holes on the outbound side and use a short bungee cord to make sure it
stays shut. But, once around the pole, the heart shape keeps it shut.
Mine is sized for 3-1/2 inch OD down to 2-1/2 inch OD poles.
They CANNOT be used on push-poles or thinwalled pipe needless to say.

TTUL
Gary