By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Sunday started with clear blue skies and no wind at the La Mesa airfield. A morning made for ballooning with balloons taking to the air and moving to the south some staying low and moving only a few thousand feet while others went high and landed down south near the three mile bridge.
After a weekend of photographing and watching the colorful sights and sounds of balloon rally this reporter took the opportunity to put down the camera and reconnect with what a part of ballooning is all about. Being part of a chase crew. It allows one to connect with the event in a way that makes you part of a team all be it only for an hour or so. You can develop friendships that may last a long time or only for that one crew trip. You get the chance to get up close to feel the air and the roar of the fan as the balloon is being filled and then the heat of the burner as the pilot readies the balloon to be uprighted. The fan is turned off and the balloon stands up the crew gathers to add ballast and keep the balloon on the ground until passengers are loaded and ready to fly.
Once the pilot is ready to take off he adds heat with a few long blasts of the burner and up the balloon goes into the blue sky suddenly you become aware of the quiet as the ballon rises. The burner breaks the silence and then goes off again. Quiet, a quiet that is both calming and soothing, yet exciting to to experience as the balloon continues to rise and a view that is not often seen fills the eye. Look left, look right and scenery changes from the wide open plains to hills. The experience of flight in a hot air balloon is one you have to experience for yourself, to feel the gentle swaying of the basket, to sense the quiet as you float along powered by the breeze.
Each time you go up is a different experience. It is a different flight because you go where the wind takes you. You may go north over town or south over the open prairie where you will see sights that you don’t even notice on the ground. The way the water has carved out a creek bottom or an arroyo that looks like lace laying on an open plain or how the wagon ruts of the Santa Fe trail can be more easily seen from the air than the ground.
This year many balloonist were looking for crew and needed the help as many sponsors failed to provide crew as they did in the past. Being a sponsor in the past was a way to provide crew for the balloon and give a crew member or two a chance for a ride in the ballon that the company sponsored. This year the rally ended up with 16 balloons and some of the best weather the rally has seen in years. By Sunday the numbers of spectators had dwindled significantly. Many pilots needed crew and that gave several other people a chance for a ride, like this reporter this morning.
The International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally will again grace the skies of Raton next year. According to Chris Valentini the rally committee will meet and figure out what went well and needs tweaking. They will be begin plans for next year’s rally and as time gets closer will be looking for sponsors and crew to keep the event going. As a participant in the event I must congratulate the efforts of those who spent so much time and effort into making this event an outstanding success this year for Raton and allowing those who were lucky enough to crew or even get a ride, that opportunity. To the pilots who also make the event possible by coming to Raton and flying their balloons a great big hearty Thank You!! We look forward to seeing you again next year.
