We hoped for colorful autumn foliage on this hike, and the weather co-operated. A crisp, sunny day brought out the best and the brightest of fall colors.

Key-exchange hikes are confusing at first. We all met at the junction of the Beeline Highway and Control Road to exchange cars. Westbound hikers drove to Camp Geronimo Trailhead to begin their journey while the eastbound hikers started from Pine Trailhead. Along the way both parties met Scott Green and Jim Buyens, two Trailblazers who were independently hiking the round trip from Pine—an "A" hike made by combining our "C+" hikes.

Starting from either Pine Trailhead or Camp Geronimo, the hike begins with a 1000-foot climb consisting of a series of ups and downs, some of them fairly steep.

The westbound hikers crossed Weber Creek on stepping stones, then followed the Highline Trail as it meandered upward through a series of temperate vegetation communities. After a mile we were out of the deciduous forest and into a drier region of scrub vegetation, with panoramic views of the dense forest to the south and the Mogollon Rim everywhere else.

The autumn leaves were patchy, but very colorful when we found them. Oak, maple, and oh-oh! poison ivy had the brightest colors. Photographers snapped away as we continued our climb.

The first hikers we met were Jim and Scott, a third of the way through their 16-mile  ±3200' round trip hike. We took pictures, wished them well, and advised them that they would be meeting the eastbound hikers later on.

Where are those eastbound hikers? When we got into the clear, both Ted and Arturo tried to contact them by 2-way radio. No luck. We stopped in the shade for a snack break, then found Cathy and Quy. They had walked far ahead of their companions. Ted started on down the trail and soon met Anikó, George and Chuck. All accounted for.

George and Ted did remember to exchange car keys.

Hard to believe that we were still short of the halfway sign. Finally we passed it, then enjoyed many wide open views on the second half of our one-way hike.

The Highline Trail took us up to one last high point, then down, down, down before leveling off near Pine Trailhead. We were well past the Donahue Trail before we met any other hikers, then lots of people greeted us on the way on in to Pine.

Three riders on two horses asked Ted to take their picture – a big guy on the first horse with his son (much smaller) and his preschool grandson on the second horse.

After the hike everyone re-convened at Pine Trailhead. Four of us decided to stop for dinner in Payson, while the others headed home.