2. The Shield  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  1,528. Good page?    Administrators:  Jay Knower, M Sprague, lee hansche, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Steve Marr on Apr 18, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 66° | 46° 77° | 59° 79° | 55° 59° | 39° 55° | 37°

The Shield climbs just to the right of the rope. ...

Description 

The Shield is the second major climbing area at Echo Crag. The routes on The Shield are more difficult than Square Inch, and generally longer (most top out around 80 feet). The left side of the Shield is marked by a number of small roofs that cross the upper part of the wall, while the right side is smoother, and a bit more laid back. Like Square Inch, the Shield is often wet in the spring or after a range. These routes see less traffic and are a little dirtier.

Getting There 

Just right (south) of the twin cracks on VH-1. Look for the “layered” roofs on the upper part of the left side of the wall. The right side is marked by a small buttress with two large white flakes near the ground behind a tree. Just past the Shield is Grunge Wall. As the name implies, it’s dirty and hard to miss. If you see a couple of moderate routes that cut through the lichen on the wall, you’ve gone too far.

The Classics

Featured Route For 2. The Shield

The Shield 5.7  NH : Echo Crag : 2. The Shield

From the left side of the tree, climb to the top of two right-points flakes, and then up the left of two short, blunt arêtes (the rock between the arêtes is often wet) to a large ledge. Continue up the face above the ledge, heading towards the left side of an 18 inch overhang. Pull through the overhang on good hands (probably the crux – get your left foot up high on the face) to the face above with a thin crack. The best climbing on the route is above the overhang – the moves will keep you th...[more]   Browse More Classics in NH