Goldfinch Crack

Definitely not a Bong Eater, but still a fun, short line to hit up if someone is bogarting the better lines or to beat the winter inversion. Found just uphill and west of Bong Eater and just down and west of the Burner Brothers this scrappy chunk of rock offers at least one decent line (and reportedly another). Start in a nice nook in the scrub oak, climb through a couple of blocks to a nice stance about fifteen feet up. Lieback left up a quality crack to an offwidth with interesting holds. From here three options arise. Either continue straight up a wide crack in the corner (more liebacking), or step out right on easier terrain with cracks and face holds. Or finally crank out left on reachy, fun hand jams, on perpetually deteriorating rock. Despite the serial crouton nature of the rock, the jams are solid and the move out to the arête is quality. Follow the arête/slab to the top. Belay at double bolts at the head of the original corner. Walk off east or west. Or rap off chains.

Found on perhaps the furthest west chunk of granite in LCC. Five minutes uphill and west of Bong Eater, and a short jump downhill from the main Burner Buttress. When the Bong Eater trail cuts right to the route, continue uphill on social trails. The easiest entrance is by continuing up towards Burner and then cutting back west at the elevation of the base of the Finch line through a gap in the scrub. A few large boulders directly below the line provide ample room for sun bathing and hide the lower reaches of the climb.

Standard rack. One larger piece is nice but not critical.