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The 2023 Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally gets Underway Saturday In Raton

By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media

The 2023 Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally got underway Saturday morning to beautiful blue skies and light winds which calmed down even more as the morning progressed allowing for a calm slow balloon ride.

This year’s balloon rally began with 16 balloons and more sponsors than balloons as health issues grounded a couple of pilots, who we hope will return next year. The pilot reception held at the Elk’s Lodge started the event Friday evening. The parking area filled up early Saturday morning and brought well over a hundred spectators to view and photograph the event.

This year saw one of the youngest pilots to fly the event at 28, Shawn Shipman flying Maes Magic. He said he began flying with dad at age two and has been around ballooning ever since. Shipman received his pilot’s license two years ago and flies his balloon along side his dad who is also a pilot flying his own balloon.

Cael Walton, a freshmen at Raton High School, designed the winning logo for this year’s balloon rally. For his efforts Cael was awarded a balloon ride with pilot Tom Gardner Saturday morning.

The Elk’s Lodge served up pancakes and sausage with coffee or juice and Sage Coffee was on hand for specialty coffees this year in their new food trailer.

Sunday

A beautiful sunrise greeted the early risers Sunday morning for the second day of the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally. The pancake batter flowed and the sausage crackled as the Elks Lodge fed about 300 people on Sunday after filling the tummy of over 250 on Saturday.

Again the winds calmed and all the balloons took to the sky for another day of great flying. The parking area on the east side of the air field was once again filled with cars and spectators to watch the balloons lift off. Balloons drifted west to begin with and then many rose up high and found the easterly winds and drifted back over the airfield. Variable winds took over and scattered the balloons all over with a couple making it back to the field for a second hop.

Monday

Evening rain showers Sunday evening presented Monday morning with clear skies and light southeasterly winds giving the final day of balloon rally a great send off. The balloons inflated and took to the skies heading in a southeasterly direction floating slowly over toward I-27 where many of the balloons landed along the frontage road.

The crowds were expectedly smaller as many folks had to return to work Monday morning leaving the die hard balloon fans to enjoy the nice morning.

Christine Valentini noted this year they had more sponsors than balloons with a couple of families sponsoring balloons in memory of loved one who have passed. This year the Gott Family sponsored Lofty piloted by Gerry Graff, in honor of Cathy and Cindy Gott while the Encinias Family sponsored Maravilla Sunrise piloted by Jennifer Beard in Memory of Tony and Josie Encinias. To fly freely of the bonds of earth seems a fitting tribute to those lost.

DJ Teddy Romero grabs a couple of guys from the crowd to hold the American Flag while he plays the National Anthem Saturday morning at the La Mesa Airfield in South Raton Saturday morning.
The 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally pin designs by Cael Walton who received a balloon ride Saturday morning for his design.
It was a picture perfect morning for the first day of the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally in Raton NM Saturday July 1st.
Up Up and Away as the hot air balloons rise above the La Mesa Airfield Saturday morning.
The chase crew for Wiley Coyote piloted by Samuel Wiley moves it to where the pilot wants so they can lay the balloon over and pack it up Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally
The balloons begin their inflation process Saturday morning as they prepare for a 7:45 lift off at the La Mesa Airfield in South Raton.
Balloon inflation is underway at the La Mesa Airfield Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.
A bright sunny morning greets the balloons and spectators as the balloons inflate to be what turned out to be a great day for flying Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.
The sights are endless at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally as Ajuua Dreamer rises above the framed by the flags Saturday morning.
The balloons begin to rise above the La Mesa Airfield Saturday during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally in South Raton. The balloon Nathan Detroit piloted by John Folsom is flanked by Air Play piloted by Rex Smart.
Spectators watch as the balloons prepare to lift on at the La Mesa Airfield Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.

 

a Kaleidoscope of color as these three balloons are lined up and ready to lift off during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally at the La Mesa Airfield in South Raton
A spectacle for the eyes as these balloons rise above the La Mesa Airfield in South Raton Saturday morning flanked by beautiful greenery on the ground.
Its pretty and green this year as the balloons rise above the La Mesa Airfield Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.
Spectators were treated to a colorful morning as the balloon float effortlessly above the green landscape in South Raton Saturday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.

The recent June rains have filled a many a watering hole in Colfax County as can be seen south of Raton

Sunday morning sunrise greeted those early risers to begin the second day of the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally at the La Mesa Airfield in south Raton.
The 15 balloons at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally are inflating or already inflated begin to rise into the morning sky on another picture perfect day.
Up Up and Away The balloons of the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally float into the morning sky Sunday morning at the La Mesa Airfield
The balloons are ready to take to the air Sunday morning at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held at the La Mesa Airfield in south Raton
Hundreds of spectators watch as the hot air balloons ready for flight Sunday morning at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally in south Raton
Into the air they go, hot air balloons rise above the crowds Sunday morning at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held at the La Mesa Airfield in south Raton.
Against a backdrop of clouds the balloons float along with little wind to push them at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally Sunday morning.
Ajuua Dreamer piloted by Tom Gardner and sponsored by INBank kisses the sun for Sunday morning at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally
Saki Bomber, piloted by Loretta Zamora readies for flight. Gut Wrenching piloted by Shawn Speicher glides slowly further south of the field Sunday morning during 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally
Takach Another Breeze piloted by Kieth Takach floats above the ground Sunday morning with a gorgeous backdrop of mesas to the east of Raton during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally. Photo by Shana Dallas.
Wow! all the color, all the clouds and blue sky as the hot air balloons float along Sunday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally. Photo by Shana Dallas
The perspective from above the ground as the hot air balloons float along during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally Sunday morning. Photo by Shana Dallas
Ajuga Dreamer piloted by Tom Gardner floats over the old La Mesa race track during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally Sunday morning. Photo by Shana Dallas
The crowds watch as the ballots rise up above the La Mesa Airfield Sunday morning during the second day of the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.
In Honor of Cathy and Cindy Gott the Gott family sponsored Lofty piloted by Gerry Graff, here they prepare the balloon for flight Monday morning during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held at the La Mesa Airfield
The balloons lift off Monday morning to a smaller crowd during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held at the La Mesa Airfield in south Raton.
Pilot Gerry Graff puts the heat to Lofty as the balloon inflates Monday morning at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held in south Raton.
Balloons in various states of inflation prepare to lift off at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally held at the La Mesa Airfield in south Raton Monday morning.
Lofty rises into the air flanked by seven of the 15 balloons at this year’s 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally
All Lined up south of the La Mesa Airfield as the balloons rise and fall in the Monday morning breeze at the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally.
The balloons perform an unchoreographed dance in the sky driven by the light breezes at the different altitudes and present the crowds many different configurations during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally
Nathan Detroit piloted by John Folsom who also served as the Balloon Mister for this year floats under Maes Magic piloted by Shane Shipman and Gut Wrenching piloted by Shawn Speicher during the 2023 International Santa Fe Trail Balloon Rally

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