The Shield  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Lat, Long:  30.5083, -98.8193 Map Page Views:  3,615. Good page?    Administrators:  Matt Richardson, LeeAB, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Steve Marr on Sep 16, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

E-Rock has world class slab cragging and this is t...

Description 

The Shield is the largest and steepest area along the Backside of the Main Dome. It is home to most of the difficult, run out slab routes in the park. The wall is basically divided into two sections. The right side (from Nobody Like Bryant Gumbel to the obvious Runamuck arch) consists of shorter routes in the 5.7 and 5.8 realm. This somewhat confusing area has also been called the Prok Wall in honor of all of the routes with "Prok" somewhere in their name. Almost all of these routes require gear with the occasional bolt here and there. Protection ranges from nonexistent to good. The left side of the wall (from Fly on a Windshield to Carpet Crawl) boasts steep, bolted slab routes in the 5.10 to 5.12 range.

Getting There 

As for the other areas along the Backside, follow the Echo Canyon trail through the Main Dome - Little Dome saddle, down the draw, and through the boulders at the bottom. There is a well used hiking trail that leads out from the boulders, loops to the right (northeast), and continues around the entire dome. Follow the trail to the marker for the blue climbers' trail and turn right. Once you reach the base of the dome, the majority of the Shield will be to your left. The Runamuck arch on the right side of the wall makes a good landmark. You can reach any climb along the Shield (as well as the areas immediately adjacent to it) by following the trail along the base of the wall.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Shield

Stranger Than Friction 5.10b PG13  TX : Enchanted Rock State Natura... : ... : The Shield

The start is slight right of the bolt line up a flake into a dish. Clip first bolt and move left to the second bolt. It is best to remove the first clip as it will cause rope drag. Move past the bolt using a mantle move. This gives way to the second (3rd) bolt. Climb up to a good stance and clip the third (4th)bolt and the next fun moves. A small crack and a fancy foot work gets you past this fun section. Once above the crack you encounter another mantle and access to the fourth (5th) bolt. Move...[more]   Browse More Classics in TX