For years I've wanted a drone. Nothing fancy, just something I could carry along with me in my pack and take pictures from the top of mountain peaks. Last year for my birthday, my loving wife and son gave said drone to me. Being a drone pilot is not as easy as one would imagine, especially for a non-gamer like me. Simple up-down, forward-back becomes tricky when there are two thumb controls at your fingertips. Add the camera, hover mode, and other typical embellishments, and it shouldn't surprise you that I crashed the drone more often than not (even with the self landing mode).

I was already well aware, but once I received my drone, I became acutely aware of how windy mountain peaks are in general. In the first year of ownership, I carried the drone to many a summit but could not fly it due to wind. I then settled to take it with me on ATV rides and fly from viewpoints. Unfortunately, the camera is a bit tricky, and it has taken several flights to figure out the picture angle that seems the most conducive to sound pictures.

Thankfully, there isn't any wind this morning, but it is going to be hot. A record-setting heatwave has been covering most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As I leave the house, it isn't dark, but the sun is at least an hour away from breaking over the mountains. I'm heading back toward Hardscrabble OHV/ATV trail systems just outside of Enterprise, Utah. I'm familiar with the staging area and the drive to Pilot Peak, and hopefully, I will be well on my way to the summit before it gets too hot.

Pilot Peak is a stunning peak in the Hebron - UT quadrangle. Triangle in shape, it rises steeply on all sides toward a pinpoint summit. I park my ATV at the trailhead for Pilot Peak Trail #31004, a 4-mile Dixie National Forest trail that loops behind Pilot Peak and skirts the base of Flat Top Mountain before ending at Veyo-Shoal Creek Road.

View back along wash from near the high saddle. Flat Top Mountain (picture left)

Pilot Peak Trail is difficult to follow due to the number of cattle trails in the area. Fortunately, someone has done a pretty good job of dropping tree limbs or branches across incorrect pathways, but I catch myself having to move left or right to get back onto the faint path. Most climb Pilot Peak straight up the eastern face starting at the cattleguard and fence. I want to hike the entire Pilot Peak trail sometime soon, so I opted for the roundabout way to get a feel for the course.

High saddle view south. Windy Peak (picture right)

As I reach the high saddle, the sun is up and getting hot as I start the final leg to the summit. Steep, rocky, plus manzanita bushes make for slow going. Then, finally, a Golden Eagle takes flight less than 20 feet away from me as I reach the eastern ridgeline. It happens quickly, and I am in awe of its flight that I don't even think of taking out my camera for a picture: a prominent summit cairn and registration canister mark the top of Pilot Peaks.

The view is stunning, and I unpack my drone for another attempted flight. I'm excited because there is no wind and a small rocky pad sits just to the north to the cairn from which I can launch the drone. I fly and take videos for about 10 minutes, worried that the Golden Eagle might attack the drone for intruding on its territory. I crash land the drone (again) into a manzanita bush near the summit. The drone performed flawlessly. I accomplished several flybys and altitude pictures; one flyby was close enough to make me wonder if I should duck before the drone zooms by. I'm hopeful that I'll get some good videos and pictures for my effort this time. After packing everything away, I hike straight off the eastern face to the road and back to my ATV.

Summit view east. Lava beds, cattle guard and fence can be seen.

When I load the ATV back into the truck, it is just after 10:30 am and 90 degrees. Whew, it is going to be hot today.