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  #1  
Unread 16 Sep 2019, 08:36 AM
SiteWolf SiteWolf is offline
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Default Bucket list item checked

Decades ago I had a co-worker who had a balloon and had promised to take a few of us up....but before he could, he got a job offer in another state and the opportunity was gone. It's been kind of a bucket list item ever since, even tho right up until the time I climbed in yesterday, I wasn't sure how I'd handle it. Heights never bothered me when I was younger, bit more so as I've aged.

But it was AWESOME!!

I hadn't really thought about it all that much, but a few weeks ago I was thinking of making a trip to the Black Hills, 200 miles from me, hadn't been out there this year yet. As I googled to see what events might be coming up, I saw there was a balloon festival that weekend, and that I could buy a ride....only I wasn't sure a ride from there was the best as it was in the southern Hills, more meadow, fewer trees. So I checked further and saw another event this past weekend....and when the pilot referred to it as his favorite ride, even using the word epic, I thought...ok, sold!

It was Stratobowl weekend....this year, 14 total balloons launched (at least yesterday)....this weekend is in honor of some history.

From http://www.stratobowl.com/stratobowl.html
Historic balloon flights. This is why the Stratobowl is "on the map". From here, in 1934 and 1935, the Army Air Corps and National Geographic Society launched manned balloon flights into the stratosphere to a record 72,395 feet. It was then that this little valley became known as the "Stratobowl" and the birthplace of the space age.

10 of us (plus the pilot) had an incredible ride...about an hour in the air, from the Stratobowl site, down Spring Canyon, setting down by the tourist trap we'd met at about 5:30am, Reptile Gardens. One balloon actually landed IN the parking lot.

It was amazing to see how these guys could maneuver despite not really being able to 'steer' in the normal sense. Those not carrying paid passengers (12 of the 14) even dove down BETWEEN trees at times, from our vantage point almost looking like they'd landed.

Anyway, geeking out a bit here, have many more pics but not as many as I could have.....partially because I was just enjoying the ride, partially because I wasn't taking the time to take ideal pics...at sunrise...but as you'll see in one pic, a full moon. In another, you'll see dozens and dozens of people that had gotten out there, hiking to the rim of the bowl before sunrise, just to watch the launch.
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  #2  
Unread 16 Sep 2019, 09:06 AM
yon Beast yon Beast is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SiteWolf View Post

10 of us (plus the pilot) had an incredible ride...
good for you!!...I did the baloony thing once too...daughters 15th i think.

I would be scared silly with that many people in the bucket tho :/
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  #3  
Unread 16 Sep 2019, 01:36 PM
shoveljerk shoveljerk is offline
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That's pretty awesome. You are a braver soul than me.
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