I had heard of a few people flying off of the summit, and it seemed like worthwhile ambition. Using Google Earth and some online hiking guides, I researched the logistics of the mission.

Late August looked like it would offer the best chance at success. By this time in the season, the previous winter’s accumulated snow would be gone from the summit, the weather would have stabilized to offer the greatest likelihood of a flyable window, and we would be fit enough from the summer of hiking to get to the launch by daybreak.

Stephen Arwine, an Alaska native and all around strongman, and I drove down in the late morning from Missoula. We stopped in Challis, Idaho for lunch and last minute supplies before heading to the trailhead. We were in a relatively remote section of the state, so we needed to be careful to maximize our chances of an incident-free flight. It may have been a little overkill, but we set up about a half dozen steamers to indicate the wind direction and speed. Landing into the wind reduces your ground speed and is the best recipe for a safe touch down.

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