I know this is a little overboard but....

I have three stand locations that I have placed static 11mm climbing line from about 35' to the base of the tree. It is tied fairly tight from bottom to top. I have a climbing harness and an ascender (Petzel Ascention) I clip into the line. You wouldn't have to use a climbing harness just a carabiner and your harness. As you climb up with your climber (or tree steps for that matter.) You mearly move the ascender up with you. IF you were to fall the ascender locks up and you will hang there until you get your feet back in place. I feel much more comfortable up there at 25 - 30 ft. because I KNOW that this will hold me! I tie-on my ascender without a carabiner to be quieter. When you come down you mearly move the ascender down as you go. Very safe. Check out a local climbing gear store, they have people there to help you get it figured out and teach you how to use the gear.

Also if you are looking for a something that you can hook onto once you get up the tree try a coated cable loop. You can purchase it at a farm supply store and place it around the tree. Take a carabiner and hook it to your harness and then when you get up to the top of the tree just hook it on the loop. The best part is that your biner will slide easily around when you rotate around the tree. I have these at all of my semi permanant stands and ladder stands.

In the words of Da' Yoopers "Saftey First! Treat every hunter as if he were loaded"