44°34'40.4"N 71°53'52.2"W

The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is known for its rolling hills, snow capped mountains, and charming New England villages. Within this beautiful corner of the state, you can find Burke, a small town that’s home to a tight-knit community of outdoors lovers and enthusiasts. The crown jewel of Burke is its local ski resort which offers 56 trails on 260 acres of pristine land. It is also the location you see in this piece.

This morning began with a 4 AM alarm, about 2 hours before the sun was due to rise. I rolled out of bed in the A-Frame cabin I had been staying at nearby, packed my equipment, and shuffled through the cold into my car.

It was no warmer than 5º on this frigid February dawn, and no matter how many layers I piled on, I could still feel the frost biting at my skin. I arrived at the base of the mountain just as the morning patrol was starting up the chairlift.

Clouds of icy fog began to wash over the peak; increasingly illuminated by the rising sun. I hastily launched the drone before this moment passed, managing to capture a vivid contrast between the cold winter hues in the shadows and the soft morning light against the treetops.

When I took the drone down, I noticed an impressive amount of frost had managed to form on the propellers of the craft, as well as my fingertips. Yet, despite the brutal conditions, I came away from this outing with a surreal feeling of satisfaction.

I stood for a minute longer at the base of the mountain before returning to my car, my entire body shivering but entranced by what I had seen from my drone.

Original Music and Sound Design by Clemens Ruh