The present invention provides a column climbing device for climbing structural steel columns having flanges and the like. The column climbing device includes a platform member having a toe portion and a foot portion, the toe portion of the platform member including a first interior surface and a second interior surface together defining a substantially-rectangular notch open to one side of the toe portion of the platform member, the first interior surface and the second interior surface in a fixed parallel orientation with respect to one another, wherein the substantially-rectangular notch is configured to frictionally engage a flange of a column. The column climbing device also includes one or more attachment mechanisms attached to the foot portion of the platform member for securing the platform member to a foot of a user.