Alcove  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  25' Lat, Long:  42.1937, -71.1044 Map Page Views:  4,244. Good page?    Administrators:  Old Timer, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Leo Paik on Jan 14, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue 70° | 48° 55° | 45° 55° | 41° 73° | 45° 77° | 55°

Entering the Alcove, Hammond Pond.

Description 

This tiny bouldering area is probably fairly famous among New England climbers. Within this bit of rock are some quality moderates. Don’t let the moderate grades fool you. One famous climber broke his back here failing on the top out of a problem here. This is probably the most overhanging rock at Hammond Pond. Here's a nice shot from the MIT photo contest.

L->R (from the old days - a new list is in the making...):
A. OJ aka Scrambled, 5
B. Over Easy, 8 or V2
C. Overalls, 9
D. Hammond Eggs, 12 or V3
E1. Traverse Left, 6
E2. Breakfast of Champions, 11 (now called V3)
F1. Snap, 10
F2. Crack, 9
G1. Kellog’s, 10
G2. variation, 10
H1. Pop Left, 8+
H2. Pop, 8+
High Traverse, 8+
Low Traverse, 11+

Right Wall
I. traverse, 7 or 10
J. left, 7
K. middle, 4
L. right, 8

Upper Entrance Wall
A. left 9
B. left center, 9
C. right center, 8+
D. right, 8+

Beached Whale Boulder
A. Mantle, 8

Beached Whale V6/7 upper left photo

In the old days, folks bouldered here without pads. As a result, at least one well-known climber wound up with a broken back. Watch the landings if you are ropeless.

Getting There 

This lies next west of Hammond Pond and is west of the Upper Walls. It is probably best to park close to the south side of Hammond Pond. From the parking south of Hammond Pond, take the dirt road and go left at the first fork. Continue to the next fork and near this fork, head almost straight west.

Updated List of Problems 

The above list has been described as outdated.

Hence, Chris will edit in an updated list here.

The Classics

Featured Route For Alcove

Breakfast of Champions 5.11  MA : Hammond Pond : Alcove

This is one of the fine, moderate, bouldering problems in the Alcove. Its overhanging nature and the potential nasty landing (pre-pad days) made it as much a mental challenge as a physical challenge. I understand one fine climber, Geoff, actually broke his back on this problem.The start isn't too bad. It's the last part of this problem that involves a long reach on less-than-buckets that make it challenging. I've come to understand it's considered V3 now.Boston Rocks II has a nice s...[more]   Browse More Classics in MA

Photos of Alcove Slideshow

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The Alcove, Hammond Pond. Pad is below Over Easy ...	Beached Whale.	Right wall of the Alcove on a rainy day.
Reedo working the Traverse on a cold night in Octo...	Alex cruising a problem at the Alcove.	Alcove.
Hitting the jug at the Alcove.	Heading for the topout.	BETA PHOTO: OJ. Starts at my crash pad and tops out at the cra...
The Alcove at Hammond Pond. December 2006.