hot air baloon rides

[JamesB]

has anyone been up a hot air balloon?

the wife and I are taking a balloon ride on our upcoming trip to Glacier National Park in a few more weeks.

Im gonna rent the Canon 10-22mm lens again plus i will have my 50-500.

I was just looking for any first hand experience on how cool it is and what I should NOT forget to take up with us.

James

[Steelsun]

It's super cool. It seems like you are alone in the world and time has slowed down.

There is almost no wind, as you move with the wind (unless you are tethered).

You will love it.

[gjramsey]

I was amazed how much fun it was to ride in a balloon. We did that at Lake Tahoe about 4 years ago. I was not afraid at all while being about 5000 feet above the lake.

If you are going first thing in the morning, dress warm....layers do make a difference.

[Digital Prophet]

I have always wanted to take Pilot on a balloon ride.

Prophet out.

[JamesB]

thanks, we are going in the morning, have to be there at like 5:45 am to set up. we will NOT be teathered so no telling where we will go.

a few years ago in lake tahoe the wife and I went up ina glider, that was awesome. I love flying and being in a glider was very awesome, it was so quiet and smooth (once we release from the tow plane)

DP - Im sure Pilot would love the baloon ride. I understand there is a weight limit so he may have to learnt o fly the ballon and take his flight solo

James

[Digital Prophet]

Originally Posted by JamesB

DP - Im sure Pilot would love the baloon ride. I understand there is a weight limit so he may have to learnt o fly the ballon and take his flight solo

James

You just never know with Pilot.

Prophet out.

[engstrom]

Either that or they could make a bigger baloon for Pilot.

[Digital Prophet]

Yeah! Accessible balloons for the equine impaired.

Seriously though, it was a insane dream that Deb and I both shared to one day take Pilot on a hot air balloon ride.

Can you imagine the photos?

Prophet out.

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by Digital Prophet

Seriously though, it was a insane dream that Deb and I both shared to one day take Pilot on a hot air balloon ride.

Seriously though, WHY?

[Digital Prophet]

Why not?

Prophet out.

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by Digital Prophet

Why not?

I guess I'd be concerned it would scare the horse. But hey, maybe Pilot's a fan of Neitzsche.

[Steelsun]

Just don't look up at the passing balloon.

[JohnRushing]

Don't let the burners freak you out, they are pretty loud. I used to work for a man who had a balloon and one of my professors has a balloon. I went with my boss to the Albuquerque balloon festival several years ago and got to ride with a him a few times. He did what he call a dip & skip ( I think thats what he called it) where he made the balloon decend all the way down to the water and then drug the basket across the small lake and lifeted right before reaching the other side. We watched one balloon come down to fast and we could hear them laying on the burners. Before they could get the balloon to start climbing they had half their basket under water. I love going up in them but don't think i should ever be turned loose in one by myself, no telling where I would end up. It's cool how if they want to change directions they just go up or down until they get in the stream they want. I drove the chaser van a few times and saw some funny stuff. We went after my boss on one flight when we say him going down but we couldn't find a road to get to him. We found the land owner and he let us in the gate to go gather the balloon but warned us to watch out for his lama he had in the pasture. When we got to the ballon the basket was on it's side and the lama was standing by it. We figured Bill, my boss, had started walking out. When we got close enough he stuck his head up out of the basket, the lama had him pinned down . He said everytime he tried to run it off the lama would spit and bite at him. He told me a lot of other funny stories about his landings. Bill was the best boss I ever worked for but three years ago he died from cancer that he had been fighting for two years. Have fun and definently take a jacket because it does get cold sometimes. And be sure and get a shot looking straight up in the balloon, those are some of the coolest shots.