Up, Up and Away with Red Rock Balloons!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011 was to be my first hot air balloon ride. I have to admit, I was VERY reluctant to do this. But, my friend, Ellie, insisted that this be one of our activities and was quite sure that I would be just enthralled with hot air ballooning by the time we landed. Sometimes, new experiences freak me out...just a bit! But, usually, within minutes I realize that my fears were totally irrational, most of the time anyway. I awoke shortly after 5 am after a very restless sleep so that I would be ready and waiting by 6:15 for the Red Rock Balloon Folks to pick us up.

The large van was packed with people....chauffeur/pilot/owner Mark, and 3 crew members, an older couple from Vancouver and 2 sets of 20something couples from India! Really,12 people in the basket? How naive, only the pilot goes with the passengers, the rest of the 3 have to chase after us....duh...balloons only go WITH the wind not against it, I'm pretty glad they came after us and we didn't have to hike several days to get back!

After sending up a test balloon in 2 locations, we (well "they") picked the optimum site and began to unload all of the hot air ballooning paraphernalia. It would soon be apparent WHY the basket was tied to the van!

Unrolling, the balloon....

Next, large fans began to pump air into the lifeless shell to start the inflation process...

A gentle breeze courtesy of Mother Nature also helped with the process!

Ok.....so NOW I was getting EXCITED!!! Fear...gone, sense of adventure...check!

Then a loud whoosh!  The flame began to heat up the air already in the balloon speeding up the process...

 And, it began to rise.......

 This is why it was tied to the van!

Within a few minutes they issued the final "get your but in or we will leave you behind" warning....I complied. I thought it would be a struggle to climb up on in there, but the placement of the footholes were perfect and was just sort of like scrambling over a rock or climbing a tree...and then you just sort of balance yourself on the edge and voila...you're in!

Phil was sweet enough not to untie us until I had a photo....and Mark was kind enough to turn on the flame....just for effect!

 One last shot of hot air to get us up.......

Phil waving goodbye! And we were up, up and away!

Sedona Red Rock Sunrise

 Just as the sun rose over the ridge, we lifted off up into the heavens. Today we would reach a maximum altitude of 5,000 feet and a maximum speed of 20 mph.



Every passing minute, the sky would get a little bit brighter and the dark ground would start to glow deep clay-colored hues.

Time for more altitude to soar up over a ridge top!

 Sedona's famous Red Rocks and in the background, Flagstaff's snow covered Mt. Humphrey's.

 The scenery was absolutely breathtaking! And the ride was so quiet! I guess I expected to hear wind whooshing past me...but it was pretty quiet except when the balloon needed more inflation! And since the basket came pretty much up to my shoulders, I had no fear of falling out or anything, it was a very serene experience.

Flight Over Coconino National Forest

 After watching the amazing sunrise and the bright sunlight bathe the red rocks of Sedona, we drifted over Coconino National Forest.

 Exploring some valleys....

 I don't think I was alone in thinking that the ride was over and we were going to land....but we just hovered a dozen or so feet above the treetops, just exploring...looking for wildlife.

I was too slow with the camera, but I did see a bunny run out from under 1 shrub to another!

Looking for a Spot to Land

 All too soon it was time to start looking for a landing site. Not that I hadn't been looking out beyond and below with amazement and snapping pictures like crazy, but the "this is your last chance" for photos, drove me crazy and I was burning up megabites like nobody's business! I didn't want to land!! So, we fly to New Mexico...I haven't been there yet, why not! But....I suppose it's like they say....all good things must come to an end. Rats!

 Hmmm, this area might be promising, there's a road nearby this spot in Coconino National Forest.

 Pilot Mark instructing the folks from India, the Vancouverites, and Ellie of the details of landing.....he should have went over that before I got into the balloon and got all excited...like I was paying attention to anything besides the scenery...well, I did hear the part about bracing yourself and hanging on....hmmmm...think I could hang on with 1 hand while snapping pics with the other??

The landscape below looks like low ground cover from above, but those shrubs are 4-7 feet tall and very brushy!

One last look at the Red Rocks of Sedona from above.

 Definitely the landing site!

 The sky was so bright and blue!

 Oooooohhh, not quite here, had to go back up and over a few hundred feet or so.

 Here comes the rest of the crew to pack us up...thank goodness for 2 way radios! It's easier to direct them from above on the road and trails to take to reach us!

Safely back on terra firma.

Safe Landing!

 All too soon my first magical hot air balloon flight was to be over. It was now time to understand the complexities and logistics of landing. Pilot Mark explained that you can technically land a balloon nearly anywhere. BUT, the balloon itself weighs over 500 pounds, not counting the basket and so forth. So, if you want to carry all that for miles, you can. Realistically, look for an open field in Coconino National Forest, near a road without too many objects that could rip the balloon, oh, and stay away from power lines! We, well Mark, chose wisely!

We touched down and fairly quickly the balloon began to deflate. But every once in a while it would lift us up a few feet off the ground, teasing us with another ride!

Here comes the remaining 3 members of the crew to pack us up.

Trying to keep us from escaping

 once again!

 Finally secured, and passengers exiting, one crew member takes a line and walks away to gently guide the balloon to the ground so it falls properly...for easier packing so to speak!

 At the end, it took the might of 3 crew to pull down the balloon....must be a heck of an upper body workout...

Now they just had to patiently wait

 for it to fully deflate.

 Mark disassembling the basket....funny, I guess I wasn't paying attention to that part of the set up!

 A shameless plug for Red Rock Balloon Flights!

The trick is to get the balloon to fall in a nice, straight line like this so that it can be rolled up easily....well, I'm not so sure at 500+ pounds that it is THAT easy.

The final disassembly of the basket that held all 9 of us.

Crew member Phil, standing atop the packed balloon to squish it down some more!

PUSH! It really didn't look too easy, I know they were thankful that we were able to put down fairly close to where the van could easily access the landing site.

 The two fellows from India and the man from Vancouver were recruited to tip the basket back and push it into the trailer. I'm sure the crew appreciated the help!

I simply can't say enough about what a magical experience this was! Mark and his entire staff at Red Rock Balloon Flights really made this experience a memory that I will always treasure! Please please please......if you get the chance to go for a ride in a hot air balloon...DO IT!