Page Contents:
Overview
The Maverick (or Super Maverick) Hitch is a secure, cinching anchor knot devised by JRB. It can be set on a trunk or a crotch, depending on the application. See dedicated YouTube playlist: Playlist
The Maverick Hitch is JRB’s preferred anchor for climbing methods that involve advancing an anchor up the trunk, including JRB Hitch Climbing and Stick Climbing. It can be advanced with a pole, pulled up using the Houdini rigging, or used as a retrievable canopy anchor.
Unlike the JRB Hitch which fully explodes off the tree, the Maverick leaves a strand of rope around the tree after it is released and will not drop to the ground if there are branches. Therefore, the climber must ensure that there is nothing on the end of the rope that would cause it to get hung up as we pull it down.
If the Maverick (or Super Maverick) Hitch is being used as a basal anchor, the rope should be wrapped around the trunk twice and securely cinched in a horizontal fashion.
Features
The Maverick / Super Maverick Hitch have the following features:
- Creates a cinching / choking anchor on a trunk or spar
- Can be advanced with the use of a pole
- Can be remotely exploded, allowing easy retrieval after rappel
- Self jams under load, and unjams when load is removed
- Can be locked to avoid unintentional destabilization
- Can be tied in the bight
- Can be used as a running anchor onto a crotch
- Can be pulled up the trunk using the Houdini Rigging (see below)
- Can be used in many climbing methods, including JRB’s Hitch Climbing method as well as conventional stick climbing methods.
Maverick Pole
The Maverick Pole is recommended for use with the Maverick Hitch. It can be purchased at Ape Canyon Outfitters. See dedicated page:
Video Series
Super Maverick Hitch
The Super Maverick Hitch was introduced in Jan 2025, after the Maverick Hitch. It is superior to the standard Maverick in these ways:
- Less prone to changing shape and making retrieval difficult
- Non jamming when configured as a running SRT anchor.
Maverick Hitch Introduction
This was the introductory video of the basic Maverick Hitch
Tying the Maverick Hitch
Houdini Rigging
When the first branch in the tree is not suitable for the load of a climber, the Houdini Rigging technique can be used. This works the same way on the Maverick or Super Maverick.
Variations and Testing
The Super Maverick Hitch is introduced in the following video: