Abstract: Safety lanyards and belts are commonly used by linesman for use in climbing utility pole and by timber men for climbing trees. Typically such an apparatus is designed to encircle the tree and attach at both ends to the belt of the climber. Such lanyards and belts may even have teeth or spikes to improve the grip on the pole. For safety lanyards or belts which do not have such teeth, or to improve upon ones that do, an improved pole hitching device is provided. The device consists of basically a strap fastened to the interior surface of a conventional safety lanyard or belt with hook and loop fastener Velcro straps. The strap has a plurality of gripping cleats which dramatically improve the gripping power of the lanyard or belt.