Balloon Chase Crew

It started out cold this morning, but warmed up as the sun came out. The leaves are starting to change color.

Today, Scott launched the balloon off field so he could fly to the field for a competition event. We had to be at least 1 mile from the field. Based on the wind direction, he chose a parking lot about 2 miles from the field. Seems others had the same idea, I think there were about 8 balloons in the same parking lot at a corporate park.

After he launched we all got into his pickup and drove north towards where he thought he would land. Keralyn and Paul did a great job driving and navigating. We arrived in a field just before he landed the balloon. There were several other balloons landing in that area and a few guys that were nearby also helped us catch the balloon as Scott landed it. It sure helped having a few extra strong people.  The field where the balloon landed was just dirt, scattered brush, and LOTS of stickers. They got stuck in our socks, shoes, etc.  Boy did we all get dusty getting the air out of the balloon while the envelope was on the ground.  It’s really all part of the fun experience of ballooning. We never know where the wind will allow a landing.  Scott is a great pilot and his landings seem to be pretty smooth.

I’ve been so fortunate to be able to experience so many aspects of ballooning. This is my second year here in Albuquerque.  Last year, in addition to crewing, and working in the Balloon Discovery Center, I had my first and second ride in a balloon. Scott took me up on my second day of crewing and we got to fly from the field to a location off the field. I really liked this since we were one of the first balloons up we got to see almost all the balloons on the field in the various stages from being laid out to inflating and lifting off. It looked like a colorful patchwork quilt.  I was able to take pictures from up in the air looking down, balloons at eye level, and looking up at some above us.   A few days later, he gave me a ride when we were off field flying to the field for competition.  That was another entirely different experience. He had to use precision and work with the winds to get over the field and close to the marks he needed to hit for the competition.  I was also on chase crew last year in the truck to catch him when he landed.

We still have several more days of the balloon events, so I will continue to post new pictures in the photo gallery.