The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta turned 50 years old this year. I actually attend about once every five years or so — I live close enough that I see most of it from my front porch. This year it began on Saturday, October 1st and conditions were nearly perfect. Some 600 pilots had registered, and I think most of them flew on the opening day. The Fiesta Is such a draw for photographers that Canon and Kodak have been sponsors over the years. I think my first visit to the Fiesta was in 1980 on a camping trip out west. It launched from a different spot back then but now has a dedicated park where the Fiesta takes place. There have been as many as 1,000 participating balloons and the Fiesta managers set a lower maximum limit since then for safety reasons. It still is the world’s largest hot air balloon gathering. I moved to New Mexico in 2013 and have been to the Fiesta for mass ascensions at least twice since then. It is a bucket-list event for many people.
Each morning when the weather seems suitable there will be a “Dawn Patrol” ascension of about six balloons to see how the conditions are for flying. They take off before dawn and the lighted balloons are a beautiful site as they rise up into the dark sky. The rest of the balloons follow at about 7 AM as the sun is coming over the Sandia Mountains.
The “Albuquerque Box” is an atmospheric phenomenon that causes winds to go in opposite directions up and down the Rio Grande Valley at Albuquerque at different altitudes. Balloons will rise up into one layer of wind and head north and then drop down to a different layer and drift south, landing almost where they took off. That is the theory, and it works sometimes if the pilots are skilled enough and have enough propane. Most often, the balloons will come down reasonably close. Each balloon has a chase car on the ground that meets the balloon as it lands so they have to land at an accessible spot. Of course, the weather and wind determine the direction. Residents have begun marking welcome landing spots on their property with a large white “X”.
So, anyway, I spent the first morning on my front porch — or portal, to be correct with the local architectural terms. I jumped out of bed at 6:30 to see if the flight was on and the Dawn Patrol was approaching my house. That is a good sign — it’s gonna be a good show. The mass ascension started shortly after at first light.
First pilots ascend about 7 AM after the Dawn Patrol.
To be at the Balloon Fiesta as the mass ascension takes off is an amazing experience. There might be close to 100,000 people at the Balloon Fiesta Park, arriving at about 4:30 in the morning, mostly on shuttle busses from parking/collection points around the city. The weather is a bit chilly that early in the morning, so everyone hits the concession stands for coffee and donuts or funnel cakes. These pictures are from the 2015 fiesta…
There are many special shaped balloons the Wells Fargo stagecoach will usually inflate but might not fly. The conditions have to be just right for it to take off.
So, at home, we race to the kitchen, make coffee and something to eat — warm cinnamon rolls is nice. Not too much — it’s early and you will probably eat again. Put on a sweater, grab the camera. So, now you are ready when the first balloons arrive overhead.
Usually by 9 AM it is all but over. This year it went on as bit longer. The balloons sailed north and some adjusted for the “box” and headed back south. The balloons were low enough that you can talk to the passengers as they sail past. This pilot wished us a “Good Morning” as she went by, which totally spooked the family cat. He had not expected to hear a voice. Usually all you hear is the whoosh of the propane.
The neighborhood animals are spooked by the balloons. Mostly you hear dogs barking. The birds behave abnormally, probably thinking there are predators hovering overhead. This year the coyotes were vocal, howling at the balloons, and two of them were frightened enough to race through our yard. (Coyotes are a common sight where I live.)
Sometimes the special shapes are obvious. Sometimes not. That balloon with the long tail is sponsored by a company that makes screwdrivers. I think the pointy one is an ice cream cone, or a gnome. The British balloon carried the Union Jack.
What goes up must come down, so the pilots started looking for a place to land. There was one minor landing mishap on city street intersection, but the landings were soft and welcomed in my neighborhood. I have seen them land on major roads and most people are tolerant. The Fiesta brings a lot of money into town.
My former neighbor used to run out with a coffee pot and thermal cups for the passengers if the balloon landed nearby. I’m not quite so prepared for a landing in my yard yet. There are vacant spaces all around that work better.
So, the first day went well. Day two, this morning, was a little delayed. We had a little rain. But the flights took off and some stayed up until after 10 AM. It was a little cloudy but calm. The balloons reached some impressive altitudes before coming back down.
I actually have about as many hot air balloon pictures as I will ever need but each year, I add a bunch more. I love the Balloon Fiesta — it brings in several hundred thousand visitors over the nine days. Once it is over, we have the place to ourselves again and the fall season here is beautiful.
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The View From Here 