New Mexico Ballooning

pathfinder · March 10, 2005

I recently returned from New Mexico and have posted several bird images from Bosque previously - http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=7472

Before I went down to Bosque which is near Socorro south of Albuquerque, my wife and I spent a few days in Taos which is a great spot to relax in. We went for a balloon ride again this year and I have a few images from that experience that might be of interest.

Balloons are highly weather dependent and usually want to be up early in the morning shortly after sunrise. They need room without power lines - like the BLM land west of Taos near the Rio Grande Gorge.

The balloon has to be unrolled and laid out and the basket connected carefully - would not want it to come loose at altitude

(We flew with the Pueblo Ballon Company for the second year and they were great.) Then the balloon is inflated partially with a big fan

After the balloon is partially opened up, it has to be filled with the hot air from the propane burner

A view into the balloon during this process is always colorful and intruguing to me.

And then we get into the basket and we're OFF!!

After a while it is time to pick out a site to land before the weather arives..

Sometimes the winds cooperate and you get to pick the site, and sometimes the site picks you. We were down to our third ( last) bottle of propane when we fianlly settled down into some pinon trees and finally dragged the basket to a small dirt road.... Now we just have to pack it away again.

Sometimes the landings are not so smooth...

After packing a way the balloon we were served champagne which is a tradition of balloonists on safely landing since the early flights of the Montgolfiers in France. And then on to breakfast in Taos. A great time was had by all....

Harryb · March 10, 2005

Hey PF,

Excellent series of shots. Thats one thing I'm dying to try. It most have been a hell of a view.

Angelo · March 10, 2005

Very nice set PF. Ballooning is so much fun!

tmlphoto · March 10, 2005

Thanks for sharing these Path. The aerial shots are amazing! I'll have to put ballooning on my todo list. Looks like you had a great time.

trippy64 · March 10, 2005

Great shots! Made me dizzy looking at them. As bad as the shot posted tonight from the arch. I don't like heights.

Andy · March 10, 2005

i was hoping to see some pics of your trip, and you didn't disappoint

thanks pf!

pathfinder · March 10, 2005

tmlphoto wrote:

Thanks for sharing these Path. The aerial shots are amazing! I'll have to put ballooning on my todo list. Looks like you had a great time.

I'm glad you enjoyed them Thomas - Ballooning is cool because it is eerily quiet - unless the burner is being fired it is totally silent unless there is a wind. And it feels stationary unless you are near the ground - like standing on a very big porch.

:

pathfinder · March 10, 2005

trippy64 wrote:

Great shots! Made me dizzy looking at them. As bad as the shot posted tonight from the arch. I don't like heights.

Trippy, It feels like you are looking out of a very big window on a very tall building. Your mother doesn't like heights either, but this didn't bother her at all. You might enjoy it.

pathfinder · March 11, 2005

andy wrote:

i was hoping to see some pics of your trip, and you didn't disappoint

thanks pf!

Thanks Andy. As always, I am eager for suggestions to improve the quality of my images or my narrative.

:

pathfinder · March 11, 2005

Harryb wrote:

Hey PF,

Excellent series of shots. Thats one thing I'm dying to try. It most have been a hell of a view.

I have a feeling yoo'd love it Harry!

Shakey · March 11, 2005

Very Cool PF I had a similar post a few days ago . I am jealous that you got to ride in one though.

Link to my post on ballooning

Tim

New Mexico Ballooning

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