Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Flying High Over Albuquerque - Take a Balloon Ride

Hundreds of balloonists representing one-third of the world’s countries gathered in the dawn to launch their balloons and float gently over the beautiful New Mexico landscape. It was mid-week during Balloon Fiesta and I had the opportunity to ride along with Capt. Chuck Arreola and Julio Martinez of "A Balloon Over Sonoma." Chuck and Julio drove from the beautiful wine country of California to compete in the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Their goal, the day we went aloft, was to make it to the Balloon Fiesta Park and, hopefully, collect a prize. My goal was to experience ballooning first hand and get some special photographs.

It's All in the Wind

When you take a tourist ride in a balloon, you stride out to a waiting balloon, climb in and fly up, up and away. I was initiated into the realities of ballooning. With a plan of launching so the winds would carry the balloon toward the park, pilots were in frequent communication about potential launch places. Mind you, we were in the residential and industrial areas of Albuquerque. Our early morning was spent in a hunt for the right launch area, away from power lines and, believe it or not, away from horses. Small black trial balloons were released each time we thought we had found the perfect place and each time the winds shifted and we had to move on.

And the Hunt Goes On

We came upon a great place to launch, we thought. It was away from power lines and the fall foliage was just gorgeous, but the wind wasn't right. We moved on and spied a large parking lot belonging to the beautiful El Pinto Mexican restaurant. But the manager said there were horses nearby that would be scared by the noise and immensity of the balloon so we headed out again. We finally decided that the best place to go was an open area near the river. As we headed down the road we found about 20 balloons in various stages of launch and many more already in the air.

Launching is Work

Our crew had come from as far away as Florida to participate in the Fiesta and do the hard work of getting the balloon ready for launch. Out of the trailer rolled the balloon, unbelievably small looking it it's special sack, and then the tarp to protect the balloon from the rocky soil. After that came the basket, burners and a fan to blow cool air into the balloon to start the inflation process. As things unfolded, we realized how huge the tarp and balloon were. It took all 6 crew members to unroll the ballon and tarp, untie the balloon and hold the lines while the balloon was inflated. The balloon unfolded, the pilot put the burners and basket together, hooked the balloons lines onto the basket with huge carabiners and we were ready for the next step. The pilot asked me to hold the lines away from the opening of the balloon and the burners flared. It was searingly hot. As hot air filled the balloon, just at the right moment, he righted the basket. It was a gorgeous, colorful balloon!

Lift Off - No Fear!

I had been the brunt of jokes since this was my first balloon ride. I was told of the horrors of ballooning including a gruesome story of two balloons that had hit power wires and had become entangled in them. The riders were rescued and had to make their way to land from the high power lines. But having watched the process and knowing how carefully everything was checked, I had a sense of security. Capt. Chuck had ballooned in Europe, and took tourists aloft on a daily basis back home in Sonoma. I was in good hands. The lift-off, was effortless. In seconds we were in the air and the quiet of the flight enveloped those of us in the basket (only three as it really is a tiny space). The joy of the balloon experience was not just the opportunity to ride in a balloon but to see the pilots and balloons at work in the air and to actually look down upon the Balloon Field and see balloons flying beneath us.

Part II - The Flight and Tips for Your Ballooning Experience