2018 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally Sites and Sounds
June 30, 2018
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The spectators arrived at the 2018 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally with smiles and ready to eat as the lines grew for the Kiwanas Club pancake breakfast and coffee at the Enchanted Grounds trailer Saturday morning while they waited for the balloons to fill and lift off.
Pilots gathered for the morning briefing and were given the weather forecast that included winds up to about 10 mph. The pie ball balloons that were launched went to the southeast then made a right turn as they reached an elevation of about 200 feet above ground. Many pilots chose to wait and see if the erratic winds let up or changed directions as the sun rose into the smoky sky.
Some pilots chose to stay on the ground while others headed up and went south. There were many new faces in the crowd with many visitors from Texas and surrounding states as seen by the license plates. License plates from New York and Florida were seen as well. One visitor from Dallas Texas said they stayed in Raton last night and saw the posters for the rally and decided to check it out before going on to Creede and Breckenridge Colorado.
The rally will continue on Sunday and Monday with mass ascensions each morning at about 7:00 a.m.
A good crowd showed up Saturday morning for the International Santa Fe Trail Balloon rally.
The balloon sponsored by Sierra Communications tests the burner in preparation for flight.
Sitting at the ready is the basket owned by Bill Dimmitt-Heavenly Angel and Sponsored by KRTN Radio and Apollo Laundry
Pilot Anthony Lard readies the burner for his balloon Iris Saturday morning, his balloon was sponsored by Vermejo Park Ranch.
