Sit start on two holds below the big shelf, to the left of the start of Hammond Eggs.  This uses the only obvious sit start on the right side of the shelf.  Make your way up to the shelf, and then straight up on good holds.

Over Easy

Low Traverse

Crackle

Sit On That

On the Box

Crispy

High Traverse

Kellogg's

Hammond Eggs

Warm Up Traverse

Scrambled

Breakfast of Champions

This is a silly little problem that starts on Scrambled, but instead of topping the boulder out, you make your way to the big ledge rail directly above the Lower Traverse (aka Chinese Vodka). Find a way to balance yourself on the small ledge for a no hands, sit down finish. While the climb is fun, please be safe, and have ample pads and a spotter.

This is the climb that traverses left on the set of crimpy knobs right below the huge jug rail. Start out right and traverse left for a few moves, then make some tougher moves on smaller holds under the big jug rail. Snag the jugs as for O.J, and top out. 

Climb Snap, and trend right from about the center of the face to the right of the triangular feature. This is basically a variation of Snap.

Sit start on the flake below Kellog's.. Move right hand to a crimp and then use two decent crimps to bump your left hand out and up to eventually link up with Kellog's.  The crux is getting to, and then past that second left hand crimp up higher. 

*Watch out for the starting flake, it was wobbling last time I was there, but it was still usable

  Per Ben Duba, the starting flake to this problem broke recently. Now, the logical sit start begins with a left hand pinch and a right hand crimp. Thi grade of this problem will likely need to be readjusted after a consensus is reached.

Sit start on crimps with a foot ledge. Make a few moves up to the horizontal ledge, and then reach for the jug on the top.

Sit start with right hand on a crimp, left on a gaston, make a few moves up to the big shelf, then make a big move to the lip.

 An easier variation heads left from the shelf to top out using the crack.

Boston Rocks rates this 5.8+, Kemple gives it V2.

This is called either low or high traverse, I amnot sure which. Start sitting on the right end of the main wall at the Alcove. Climb up, and traverse left on crimps and slopers with a nice foot ledge most of the way. Keep traversing past Kellog's and finish on Breakfast of Champions.... You can continue traversing further for a ton of other linkups.

This is the easier version of the overhang in the Alcove.  It involves going up and trusting that ball-like hold.  At least the landing isn't as bad as Breakfast of Champions.  Fun! 

Addendum: Some may prefer a V grade, but Sherman's V system didn't exist when I climbed it first.  Also, I'm not sure I've ever climbed a V3, yet I climbed this one.  I added a V1 grade.

The crux is probably the last reach before the top.. Climb up from the diagonal shelf, starting just to the right of Over Easy.  From the shelf, there are two sets of decent handholds straight up, and then a decent little shelf before the top.

Start low on the right side of the shelf, and traverse left. It is fun to link up onto OJ and top out.

Start low on a decent ledge or pull on from a stand start, either way it's easy and fun.  Climb your choice of huge jugs straight up for a great warm up or beginner climb.  This is called Scrambled in the New England Bouldering guidebook.

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 V2-3 now, depending on one's height. Pushed to add a bouldering grade by Dave Twardowski, I've added a range including a PG-13 safety rating due to the risk to one's back. 

Boston Rocks II has a nice shot of this, top row, 4th photo

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...): A1. Low Traverse, V3-4, 25', boulder. A2. 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+ or V0+. I. Crispy, V1, 15'. J1.High Traverse aka Warm-Up Traverse, 8+. J2. Low Traverse, 11+. J3. Thank God Traverse, V1.

 Right Wall J. Easy Traverse, 7 or 10. K. left, 7. L. middle, 4. M. right, 8.

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

Beached Whale Boulder A. Mantel, 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.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Main Alcove Wall