The 2021 Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally Takes to the Skies over Raton

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

The 2021 Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally got off to a great start with all 16 balloons rising into the grey skies that greeted balloonist and spectators Saturday morning July 3rd, 2021 at the La Mesa Airfield in South Raton.

Saturday’s Events
17 balloons were scheduled but one had to cancel due to work responsibilities at the last minute. Early birds to the airfield were greeted with the smell of pancakes and sausage as the local Elks Lodge took over the morning breakfast duties making cakes the size of the plate leaving little room for the two sausage patties that went along with the tasty meal.

The NM National Guard Army band played to a large crowd at La Mesa Airfield before a light rain put the damper on the evening’s events. Most of the crowd departed the airfield as the rain quit and balloonist packed up their equipment.

Sunday’s Events
It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning as the New Mexico National Guard’s 44th Army Brass Ensemble played the National Anthem at the balloon rally Sunday morning for a good crowd that had gathered at the 2021 Santa Fe Trail Balloon rally on the La Mesa Airfield. Balloons lifted off in almost calm winds and floated around the field some going south while other pilots found the winds and went east and back west then settled back on the south end of the field.

Addison Medina, a 7th grader at Raton High School, won the logo contest for the Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally. She was awarded a ride on a hot air balloon for her efforts with pilot Neil Smith on Sunday morning. This was also her very first balloon ride. Medina enjoyed her ride and thought is was cool. Medina told KRTN “Getting to experience riding in a hot a balloon was thrilling. To see the top of the Mesa’s, old dirt roads, and even the old race track was beautiful. Everything was so mellow and calm from above you could easily forget your in the same town. It’s crazy what drastically the difference was from the new perspective. ”

The Elks again filled the hangar area with the yummy goodness of pancakes and sausage Sunday morning. By the end of the morning event it was announced that the there was only five of the events T-shirts left.

Monday’s Event
Monday’s event carried on the beautiful weather that proceeded it Sunday morning with balloons finding friendly skies to fly in. Winds were moving to the southeast then a little higher they went west with most balloons finding landing areas in the Dillon Creek Road area.

The Elks once again filled the hangar area with aroma of pancakes and sausage feeding over 100 spectators and balloon crews Monday morning.

In conversation with John Folsom, a balloon pilot, from Omaha, Nebraska he was very pleased with the flying condition around the Raton area noted that he would be back as often as he could to fly the Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally. Bill Dimmit asked balloonist to recommend other pilots to apply to fly here in Raton in order to grow the balloon rally hoping to see as many as 25 pilots.