We scheduled a Fall trip to Payson to avoid the Labor Day traffic on the I-17. Unfortunately the weather didn’t agree with us and we were escaping 105 degree heat in the valley to almost 90 degree midday heat on the Rim. In response, we met at 5 AM in Fountain Hills, getting an early start to beat both temps and traffic.

At 7 AM, 17 eager Trailblazers headed off on the Derrick Trail and made our way out of the sleepy campground and up to the Highline Trail with a 2.5 mph pace. Stopping to take a breath of cool clear air and enjoy the views, we continued along the the trail. We thoroughly enjoyed the tall green trees and ferns, a few wildflowers and a fleeting view of a large bear crossing the trail near the final meadow. Most of us missed the bear and only had a large pile of bear scat to look at, verifying Dave’s vision.

We crossed down to Horton Creek about 10 AM and rested a bit. The creek and waterfall were running well and provided wonderful views, a nice melody and a good place to soak our bandannas before the warmer and more crowded descent back to the trailhead.

Delighted to have finished our hike as the temps soared and Highway 260 became a parking lot of folks escaping the Valley to go north, 12 of us stopped at Fargo’s Steakhouse for a celebratory lunch. Generous sandwiches, salads and burgers came to us quickly and we filled our bellies before heading back down to the heat.