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| Banfield Hollingshead Loop, AZ | |
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| | Banfield Hollingshead Loop, AZ | | | |
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Banfield Hollingshead Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 3.50 Miles |
919 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.50 Miles | 2 Hrs 2 Mns | | 1.79 mph |
| 919 ft AEG | 5 Mns Break | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| partners | | We woke to terribly thick smoke throughout Strawberry/Pine area as well as up on the rim, so where can we hike and breathe at the same time?
Just north of the 260/87 junction we stopped and chatted with a Coconino Sheriff Deputy who thought we'd have the best luck west on 260 or well north along 87. So we decided first to try west on the 260. But after a dozen miles it looked no better, so turned back to head up 87.
With absolutely no ideas for hikes well north of Clint's Well, we headed west on Lake Mary Road until things started to clear. By time the air was clear enough to hike in the only nearby plans I had were to bag Banfield Mountain and Hollingshead Mountain, so that's what we set off to do.
The drive along Forest Road 81A was more suited to my old Cherokee than for the 4Runner which just meant the drive would take longer. A few spots I had to get out and move large rocks so I could either drive around or drive over with one side or the other. As we neared my planned start we were confronted with another boulder-strewn hill and right then-and-there decided to just park it and make a loop of the two peaks instead of two separate hikes.
We set off cross-country on a relative beeline to Banfield Mountain and soon enough we were on a Forest Road heading the same direction. We followed it until a quarter-mile from the summit when we set off up-slope. The summit was pretty much a 'view' of nothing but trees over a wide flat area.
Hardly worth even voicing the words bagged another peak. 
Oh well, on to Hollingshead.
Back down the Forest Road was easy enough and by following a smooth clockwise arc we were able to miss the worse sections of boulders along the ascent of Hollingshead. Unfortunately, wind had changed and smoke was rolling in so by time we reached the summit there was no point in attempting to take in the scenic panorama... it was nothing but smoke.
](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
On the drive back to Strawberry we realized there was no point in trying to find another hike today. So it's just back to the cabin for an afternoon of reading and hope for better tomorrow. |
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