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Prison Camp (Gordon Hirabayashi) Area Rock Climbing
| Elevation: | 5,000 ft | 1,524 m |
| GPS: |
32.33339, -110.72478 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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| Page Views: | 108,074 total · 811/month | |
| Shared By: | Hendrixson on Jan 9, 2014 · Updates | |
| Admins: | adrian montaño, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen |
Description
The sectors comprising this area are:
- Dragon Tower: The first routes encountered. Both Dragon's Back and Dragon's Arete are worth climbing to ascend the lichen-covered tower.
- Guard Tower: Three moderate traditional routes and a sport route across the way. The traditional routes see little traffic.
- Cell Blocks: Three frequently climbed moderate lines, two of which are mixed.
- Jailhouse Rock: Prison Camp's premier wall features harder lines on water-polished rock. Standout routes include Crime And Punishment, Armed Robbery, and Sentenced To Hang. There are a number of easier, mostly mixed lines around the corner and to the left.
- Mr. Meanor Wall: A moderate mecca which is popular much of the year. The middle lines are mixed. St. Valinetine's Day Massacre is popular among new climbers. Ropes are frequently moved between anchors for toproping.
- Alcatraz Wall: A south facing wall perfect for winter climbing. Solitary is a great introductory sport lead while the other routes allow gear practice.
- Exercise Yard: Two unique, short, juggy routes downstream on an isolated formation.
The below topo shows how the area is organized.
The history of this area is worth learning. From Wikipedia :
As a part of the effort, a federal prison camp was established at the foot of the mountains specifically to supply labor for the construction of the highway. During World War II, the camp was converted into an internment camp named the Catalina Honor Camp, and the internees were forced to work on construction of the roadway. One of the Japanese-American prisoners at the camp, Gordon Hirabayashi, was later honored in 1999 when the site of the Honor Camp was converted into the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area.
Getting There
Drive up the Catalina (Mount Lemmon) Highway until you reach the turn off for the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground just after mile marker 7. Turn left, drive through the campground to the end where it loops around a group site and corral, and park here. To approach the walls, turn right onto the Arizona Trail and hike for 1,000 feet to the junction with Soldier Trail. Follow the Soldier Trail for no more than 200 feet to a sign marking the trail, and then turn right onto an unmarked but well-established trail following the creek. This is the approach trail leading first to Dragon Pillar, then downstream walls including Cell Blocks, Jailhouse Rock, Mr. Meanor, and the Alcatraz Wall.
NOTE: During periods of high water some of the crags in this area may be difficult to access. Alcatraz Wall and Mr. Meanor Wall can be accessed when Soldier's Creek is too high by continuing up Soldier's Trail approximately 1/8 - 1/4 mile to an obvious knoll with a number of "trails of use" on hiker's R, then continuing downslope on a faint trail. Alcatraz is visible from above.
Classic Climbing Routes at Prison Camp (Gordon Hirabayashi) Area
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