Rappelling (and Climbing) with Maverick Hitch Instead of Quick Link

[Michael]

I've been playing around with the Maverick Hitch at ground level and feel confident in tying it. I've "soft locked" it and know it will be secure. It loosens to advance up the tree easily and locks right in without sliding down like the QL wants to do. I've also unlocked it and, with tension on the working end, tried to "explode" (undo) it and couldn't do it. With tension off, it explodes pretty easily and drops straight to the ground. Again, all of this is at ground level, but I think I'm ready to try it with a one-stick climb (locked) and rappel (unlocked.) I'm going to leave my QL attached for now but will use the opposite end of the rope (with the Dynaglide loop to attach the retrieval rope) for the hitch, but hopefully it works well enough that I can ditch the QL completely.

I know Mike uses it, but has anybody else tried climbing or rappelling with the Maverick Hitch? Anything I should be aware of that I may not be considering? It'll be interesting to see how difficult it is to re-tie while standing on a stick (with linemans or second tether attached) when I need to move around a branch.

[Arrowsmith]

Michael. It looks like you and I might be the only ones using the JRB Maverick Hitch (at least at this time). I have used the Maverick Hitch for the last two seasons. Here is how I use it and my answer to your question. For me the Maverick is the easiest of all of John's hitches to tie. After you practice it you can tie it in the dark of even with you eyes closed although I wouldn't recommend the latter🙂. It advances easily, cinches down to the tree easily and explodes (releases) easily as long as it's tied correctly. I have found 5mm utility cord works best for a pull down rope. I use the Maverick on 8mm Resc Tech for a lifeline/repel line. I normally just climb down on my sticks, but I am always tied into my lifeline/repel line with a Cornell hitch or Michoacon hitch. I have the option to repel if I want to or need to.

I like to hunt new sets in the evening. I can see to set up easier and more safely. I can make sure I have clear shooting lanes. There is nothing more frustrating to set up in a new tree before daylight and then not have any shooting lanes. I will then leave my platform and sticks, come down on my lifeline (repel or climb). Then the next morning I hook into my lifeline and climb up. If I feel like I need to make a move. I will take my set down, explode (release) the Maverick, move to another location and repeat.

Now I will answer your question about tieing the Maverick at height. On some trees I advance the Maverick as I set my sticks. I have also used an extendable pole to advance the Maverick hitch. Most of the trees I hunt have branches that I have to navigate around so neither of the above methods work well. I normally set my sticks and platform using my lineman's rope. If I have to go around a branch I will tether in, disconnect my lineman's rope, go around the branch, reconnect and continue up. When I get to hunting height I will tether in, set my platform, advance my tether up, and get on my platform. I then tie my in my lifeline with the Maverick hitch. This is a little more difficult than tieing the Maverick at ground level. To tie the Maverick properly you need about 4' of rope on the working end. When at height or going around a branch in your case, the rest of your rope (the standing end) is hanging down to the ground. The weight of the rope causes the loop around the tree to drop down. This can make tieing the Maverick more difficult. This can be solved with a small screw it hook. It takes about 30 seconds to screw in the hook. Hang your rope over the hook. Tie the Maverick. Remove the hook and advance the hitch up the tree. I would have went out this morning and tied on a tree, but it has snowed all night and it is a little chilly. It is supposed to get down to 3 degrees tonight.🥶 Therefore I did this demo in my warm shop.

Maverick Hitch tied on 6"x6" post in my shop. I am showing the screw in hook. I really didn't want to screw it into the post so I just held it there.

Here is my bridge tied into a Cornell hitch on my 8mm Resc Tech which is tied to the post with a Maverick Hitch. The Maverick Hitch bites well even on a square 6"x6" post under the weight of me in my saddle.




If I choose to repel I usually hook in with a figure 8. I tend the Cornell hitch with my left hand and tend the rope with my right hand.
It was warmer to do this in the shop as you will see in the next pictures.😄

The forecast is for 7-8 inches this evening and tonight.

[Michael]

Great info! Thanks Mike!

[Michael]

Getting away from the rope slipping while advancing up the tree is the main thing I'm trying to get away from (in addition to the noise) with the Quick Link. You're right, the weight of the rope with the Maverick hitch may cause the same issue when retying (although once cinched it shouldn't be as much of a problem to loosen and advance until I have to retie to move around a limb.) I need to actually test it out on an actual climb to see how it compares to the QL.

[Arrowsmith]

The Maverick hitch should work better. The weight of the quick link also contributes to the rope wanting to sag.

When I first started using the Maverick hitch I tied a repel ring to the working end. I thought that would be a great and easy anchor point to attach my retrieval line. That small amount of extra weight pulling down on the working end made it difficult to tie the Maverick. I ditched that idea. There has been lots of trial and error to fine tune my system and everyone's system is different. It's has been a fun adventure.

[Michael]

Hence the beauty of this forum and experienced contributors like you! The collective trial and error can save the rest of us time and money. Thanks!

[Michael]

I did 3 one stick climb and hunts last weekend (technically 4 because I dropped my platform while setting up on one hunt and had to rappel back down to retrieve it!😜) and used the Maverick hitch each time. I don’t think it takes any more time to retie it to move around a branch than it does to undo the quick link and move it and once cinched it’s easy to advance up the tree without slipping.

Retrieving the rope after I was back on the ground using the Dynaglide went smoothly on all but one retrieve. The hitch exploded fine, but the rope got hung up on the branch and I had difficulty pulling it down. I was a bit worried, but I was able to throw the Dynaglide over a lower branch to pull from a different angle and it freed right up. I think I actually could have pulled on the other end of the rope and pulled it on down.

I still have the QL attached to one end, as I want to test it a little more before committing fully to the Maverick.