1 Mexican Hat And San Juan River
Southern Utah Summer 2018

Mexican Hat And Its Trademark Formation

The Mexican Hat formation is unusual and a great trademark for the small town. It looks down on the San Juan River, about a mile North of town.

I've been to this Mexican Hat twice in recent years and again after drones became available!

For that second trip in 2015, I used the small. light DJI Phantom drones. On a flight which I replicated here, I launched the Phantom and flew out over the San Juan River near my motel.

Everything went fine until I landed. The instant the drone touched the ground, a gust of wind skittered it across the ground for a few feet — and it plunged over the cliff!

I had to climb down the completely unstable cliff, with every stone on which you placed a foot likely to dislodge and start a small avalanche. At the bottom by the river, I had to find the drone in the bushes and carry it back up to the car.

Left plenty of my blood on those stones... ;-)

Please note the power lines the drone cleared going down and back up the river. Power lines are a nearly invisible hazard when you are flying a drone unless the sunlight hits them just right—usually too late They are a constant menace for drones. As are trees and wind. Now I know why my early instructor said, 'Altitude is your friend'...

Aerial Photography Using Drones