Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)

Climb out the stellar roof directly above The Shield. Steep climbing on mostly big clean holds leads to a few wild and innovative moves in a spectacular position. A great combination skills route for trad/sport teams - negotiate the excellent but heady .11b R ballet climbing on The Shield to gain the EV belay and then put on your sport face to secure the chains.

For those looking for an easier alternative approach pitch to EV, you can climb Peanuts or Blows Against the Empire and traverse left ~80' to reach the belay above The Shield.

From the belay atop The Shield, move left five feet and climb up two short angling cracks that converge. Place a good, blue #1 Metolius cam in the left crack high where it nearly converges with the right crack. Layback above the cam and rock onto the slab above finding a couple of good finger rails up high and right, and clip a bolt. You can not see the bolt from the belay. Move right five feet, and place a gold #2 Camalot, which will take the edge off clipping the second bolt next to the "tooth". You can stand up to the right of the tooth and get a great no hands shake - enjoy it as it's your last until the chains. Move left past the tooth, and latch a suit case block for clip three. Surf into the bottom left side of the "shark fin" for clip four. Get your psyche on for the crux. Hit clip five, and cope with final RP moves. See the Protection section below for helpful specifics on what draw lengths to use.

Many heart felt thanks to Steven Lucarelli, Rob Woolf, Steve Annecone, Rob Kepley, Matt McKey, Travis David, and Greg Miller for their support.

Two failed ground-up attempts in 2008 and subsequent top down inspections made it clear it required bolts. This was bolted in the Fall of 2009.

On Lower Peanuts Evangelium Vitae is the roof above The Shield. Do The Shield P1, and belay on a 8x2 foot ledge.

Belaying/Rope Length

70m rope is best. Belay atop P1 The Shield. Several parties have reported that attempting EV from the ground using 80m rope results in tons of rope drag.

Descent

If you're at the belay atop P1 The Shield, you have several options to reach the ground:

1. Climb EV to the top and walk off.
2. 80m rope - climb EV to the anchor. Lower one climber to the ground. Rappel to the anchor atop Young, Blond, and Easy (i.e., climber's left) then rappel again.
3. 70m rope - climb EV to the anchor. Lower one climber to the ledge 40' above the ground then they down climb to climber's left.  Rappel to the anchor atop Young, Blond, and Easy (i.e., climber's left) then rappel again.
4. 60m rope - climb EV and leave draws on bolts one and two and rappel with rope through draw two to the ledge 40' above the ground, then 5.7 downclimb to the climber's left.
5. 60m rope - traverse 80' right to the anchor atop P1 Peanuts and rappel to the ground.
6. Leave the gear you're belaying on atop P1 The Shield, and rappel to the ground.

Pre-draw/TR

It's a circus to TR this as it's too steep to get back on if you fall anywhere in the first three bolts. It is possible to pre-draw the bolts by hiking up the back side of Lower Peanuts climbing up the slab 100' finding a long large detached block along the ridge. The anchor is just over the edge.