Do you love the smell of Napalm in the morning? Does the belligerent virtuosity of a 10mm aria throw you into rapture? Do you revel in the primal bliss of a 12-gauge slug piercing the cold steel pane of some long since forgotten refrigerator unit? Then you may find the Jupiter Boulders to your liking. Grab your chalk bag, shoes, AK-47, and a sixer of Coors Light and head on down to the Jupes.

The Jupes lie several hundred yards downwind of a popular local shooting range, and it’s not uncommon to find the local gun club out there unleashing their fury into the mountainside, so don't expect to have many peaceful nature moments. However, most of the bouldering does lie far enough up the canyon that you are not in constant fear of your life. The granite is definitely primo, although the bouldering is somewhat limited. There are only an estimated 50 problems at the jupes, but with many classic problems, from V3 to V10, the area is worth checking out. The rock can be highly polished, and a few of the landings are over thick sand, but many are on uneven ground.

Rob Mulligan on Spaceman Spiff
Photo by R. Miramontes

Bridget Enderle on Europa
Photo by R. Miramontes

The Jupiter Boulders are a fairly new area, having been discovered by Joe Morgan and Marc Roth only around five years ago. Joe continued to develop the area over the years along with the help of Buck Branson and a handful of other people. Buck scoured the hillsides and sussed the area out completely, adding many of the classic and harder problems.

The jupiter boulders can be a harsh environment in the summer and in the winter, which only seems to add to the apocalyptic ambiance of the place. Summer temps can get well into the 120s, and in the Winter down into the 30s. Spring and Fall are the best times to be there.
If shooters are present, they should be notified that people will be entering the canyon. Most of the gun clubs that I have encountered there are primarily concerned with safety.

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RtM's personal weather report for the Jupes

Directions:
The Jupiter Boulders are located at the base of San Jacinto, 5 miles West of Palm Springs on the hwy111. Count the 3rd canyon in from the left edge of the mountain. Get on the Eastbound hwy111 and exit to the right at a large turnout. Follow the dirt road that goes along the base of the mountain. The end of the road should have 2 big lots that are riddled with mangled debris, bullet casings, broken bottles, and graffiti. Park here!

Follow faint trails to the largest canyon on the right. Problems lie hidden in the sandy wash for several hundred yards before the canyon, up the canyon, and a few lie on the right hillside of the canyon.

Story and photos by R. Miramontes

Ian McIntosh on Suck My Venus
Photo by R. Miramontes