Catalina Mts: Prison Camp to Sycamore Reservoir

NOTE: Links are in BOLD

DEPART Le Buzze at 8:30. Hike STARTS at 9:00

Length: 5.0 mi Round Trip
1000' Cumulative Elevation Gain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulative_elevation_gain)
Starting El: 4880'
High point 5040'
Sycamore Reservoir 4880'

• Rating: D - Beginner + (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)
  ** RESTRICTIONS: No Dogs, Firearms, Tobacco

NOTE: This hike falls in between the Beginner and Intermediate rating. Thus the "Beginner+" rating for this hike.

If you wish to car pool a convenient location to meet is Le Buzze at the northeast corner of Tanque Verde & Catalina Highway.DEPART Le Buzze at 8:30. Hike STARTS at 9:00
Or, you can meet us at the trail head location at the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hNsEY09mpzqzpmB2DQ7hlN3sL_I&usp=sharing) (GHRS). This the very first parking area. LIMITED parking! Please car pool if possible.

I will meet you at the parking area.

There is a Google map with the route from Le Buzze to the GHRS here (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?ll=32.29762086756551%2C-110.74459042333984&spn=0.144815%2C0.308647&msa=0&mid=1DwMgx4fVYPAB9_HrcD_XK17x3oc&z=13). Both Le Buzze and the GHRS are marked on the map. The hike starts at the parking area in the back of the GHRS. There is NO water. The campground restrooms may be open but using the facilities at LeBuzze is reccomended to be on the safe side.

-----------------------------------------------------------------Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=25648) is a fee area:
$5.00 per car or Federal pass
These fees for recreational use will hopefully allow
the Forest Service to continue to subsidize grazing
leases and timber sales at their present generous levels.

Links with more info:
FAQ - Passes, Permits & Fees (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coronado/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fswdev7_018712)
Fees no longer collected for Mt. Lemmon parking, hiking (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/fees-no-longer-collected-for-mt-lemmon-parking-hiking/article_dd4ce37a-5cfb-11e1-b28d-001871e3ce6c.html)

This hike is on part of the Arizona Trail and passes through areas burned by the Aspen Fire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen_Fire) in 2003. It burned 84,750 acres of land, and destroyed 340 homes and businesses of the town of Summerhaven. Although it is in a state of recovery the area still provides some really nice views of the basin and surrounding mountains.
The reservoir is now filled in with debris but there is a lush riparian area near the old dam which makes a pleasant place to have lunch.

https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/8/4/e/event_206807182.jpeg

Oak grasslands with great views

We will enjoy the open grasslands, oaks, and sweeping views of the rocky slopes of nearby peaks and the lush area around the lunch stop at the reservoir make it sound like a winner.

https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/b/3/2/event_206807922.jpeg

Riparian area near the old reservoir

Area map of the hike is here:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/u/0/edit?mid=zD06_uhZyXWo.k2KYB9FuS4PU

There is a good hike description here: http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=454
Previous MeetUp hike photos are here: https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/photos/13552072/

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Background information on the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site:

The Aspen Fire burned this area in 2003, but most of the big oaks remain. Some nearby ruins of the historic Prison Camp are now more visible.

The "Catalina Federal Honor Camp (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalina_Federal_Honor_Camp)" (AKA: prison) was established in 1939 to provide prison labor to build the Catalina Highway. During World War II many of the prisoners at the Honor Camp were draft resisters and conscientious objectors. In 1999, the recreation area was renamed for its most famous prisoner, Gordon Kiyoshi Hirabayashi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Hirabayashi), who served 90 days there for challenging the constitutionality of internment of Japanese American citizens.

All of the prisoners at the honor camp had been convicted of Federal crimes, ranging from immigration law violations to tax evasion to bank robbery. During World War II, many of the prisoners at the honor camp were conscientious objectors, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Hopi Indians, whose religions prohibited them from serving in the military. Some of the prisoners were Japanese Americans protesting the "Japanese American Relocation," the largest forced removal and incarceration in U.S. history.

In 1942, Gordon Hirabayashi was a senior at the University of Washington in Seattle. Instead of reporting for relocation, Hirabayashi turned himself in to the FBI. He challenged the constitutionality of internment and a curfew imposed on Japanese American Citizens, since both were based solely on race or ancestry.

Sycamore Reservoir was originally constructed to supply water to an old prison camp along the Catalina Highway. This small lake has been made even smaller by flash floods which have washed huge amounts of rock and sand into the lake. Still, the reservoir and surrounding area remains a pleasant destination for a day trip or an overnight. A sand beach and stands of alder, willow and sycamore grace various parts of its shoreline. Riparian vegetation extends into the two canyons that come together to form the dam site, providing habitat for birds and other watchable wildlife.

Be sure to bring adequate water and snacks.

As always - Hike at Your Own Risk

If you are new to the group please read these:

About the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/about/)
Tucson Hiking Meetup Group - No Show Policy (http://files.meetup.com/372195/No%20Show%20Policy.pdf)
Hike Rating Scale (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

If you have questions email me (http://www.epicroadtrips.us/contact/index.php)or call me at 304.290.8066 (NO TEXTING)
WV-Mike (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/members/13110160/)