I had to decide between a ladder and a tree branch to get my drone back

So I was flying my little DJI Mini 2 over a client's yard in Springfield to check some oak limbs, and a gust of wind sent it right into a thick pine. It got stuck about 30 feet up, wedged in the needles. My choice was to either go get my 24-foot extension ladder from the truck, which would take 15 minutes to set up on the slope, or try to climb the pine itself to shake it loose. I went for the climb, which was dumb because pine sap is the worst. I got the drone free after a lot of shaking, but then I was covered in sticky sap and had to explain to the homeowner why I looked like I'd wrestled a maple tree. Has anyone else had a piece of gear get stuck somewhere ridiculous and had to make a quick, messy call to get it back?

3 comments

3 Comments

graceprice1mo ago

Feel your pain on the sap, it's basically nature's superglue. I once spent an hour fishing a camera out of a gutter with a coat hanger, which looked about as professional as it sounds. Sometimes the quick fix is just the messiest one.

barbara_wright991mo ago

My quick fixes usually end up costing me more time in the long run.

ben48610d agoMost Upvoted

Quick fixes are just smart time management.