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First Timers at Red Rock

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First Timers At Red Rock Lauren Ball Perhaps we had applied years ago and our name finally came up. Maybe the high gas prices discouraged some and created some room for new pilots to get into the event. Maybe our fine reputation as pilots caused the organizers to try to entice us to come to Gallup, New Mexico. Whatever. I'm not sure why we received an invitation to the Red Rock Balloon Rally this year, but we were thrilled. We had heard good things about the event and the idea of popping in and out of the red rock canyons seemed unbelievably cool. So we sent in our application and eagerly waited for December.

Click to view - Gypsy Flights, Red Rock Balloon Rally

The drive Thursday was long, but the weather was looking good for Friday. Once checked in to the hotel, we turned to the task of heating our tanks. Several trucks and trailers had extension cords trailing out to the sidewalk, but then what? As we calculated how many extension cords it would take to reach from the parking lot to our room down the hall, we consulted with other pilots. Later, they said, the hotel would toss a power strip off the roof for us all to hook up to. Sure enough, later that evening a power strip magically descended over the side of the hotel and soon a patchwork zig-zag maze of cords was extending into the parking lot in all directions like a giant orange spider web. Good thing the fire chief didn't stop by — the arrangement might not have been "to code."

Despite being road weary, we were eager to get up and going. We were told that there was no extra crew for Friday but we figured we could surely scrounge somebody along the way. Wrong. Oh well, we have perfected the art of a two-person set-up and launch. Considering that we were flying in a new area with over 100 balloons, I decided to "let" David fly first. I can admit now that the idea of yo-yoing in and out of narrow canyons with so many balloons was a little intimidating. Even so, I was envious when the dawn broke and the beauty of the setting revealed itself and I watched as David lifted off to join the crowd headed for the canyons.

After a while of chasing and taking an excessive amount of photos along the way, David landed and I jumped at the chance to take a turn as pilot and try my hand at navigating the canyons. Flying solo in the cold weather, the slightest burn sent me climbing and it was hard for me to maneuver down into the canyons. Oh well, the view was breathtaking and I was happy just to be among the rocks and taking it all in. I hated to end the flight, considering that we had hardly burned any fuel flying solo in the cold weather. I could fly all morning! But David was getting inpatient (can you imagine that?) chasing in unfamiliar areas and I was not being a very instructive pilot, leaving him to figure out on his own how to get to me, so I reluctantly set down close to several other balloons.

The thrill of the gorgeous flight dimmed a little as we set about packing up our 90K balloon with just the two of us. But ya gotta love the balloon community... before we could get started another balloon crew (Cool Beans Balloon) stopped by and jumped into action to get us packed up. Soon we were back at the launch field, where the tailgate at "The Pig Pen" was well underway in the balmy 18 degree weather. Dean Davies & Angela, Diana and Larry Piles, Kurt & Mary Adelsberger, Keith and Sandy Graham, and Ernie & Jennifer Hartt (plus puppies) joined in to represent the SCBA well. The tailgate lasted into the afternoon, with just enough time to go get to the hotel for a quick nap and shower before the glow among the rocks, complete with Native American dancers and a huge bonfire. The wind picked up in the evening and most of us settled for candle-sticking, which seemed to please and warm the chilly spectators.

David and I took turns flying Saturday and Sunday, so we both got a chance at the burner all three days. Our local crew had visited the event for years & finally decided to volunteer this year. They were as awed as we were — the view as you gently rise above the canyon rim to reveal the series of red rock canyon formations dotted with colorful balloons is indescribable. By Sunday I was more comfortable and was dropping into the canyons and brushing gently along the canyon walls as my passengers reached out of the basket to collect a souvenir rock or two.

By the end of the three days of perfect and impossibly gorgeous flying, followed by good friends and tailgating in the campground, David and I agreed that our flights in Gallup were the most exciting and beautiful flying we have experienced. So far. See you in Gallup next year, and the year after that.