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A Tale of Two Balloon
Companies
A "lighter than air" experience of a lifetime
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Taos
Ballooning
(barf)
When I called to inquire
about balloon rides, I asked if they had a weight limit. He
replied it would cost an extra $100 for me for being overweight --
without ever asking how much I weighed or if I were "overweight."
He never defined "overweight," nor offered a discount for my wife
being "underweight."
(If you haven't read the
other pages, the author is handicapped and can only walk about 50' at
a time. Like most people who can't exercise, I tip the scales.)
Now you know how Taos Ballooning treats handicapped people.
I then called Ed at
Pueblo Balloon Company. The experience was marvelous and is
detailed to the left. |
If you don't do anything else in the Enchanted Circle, take a hot-air
balloon ride. Taos is the place, and
Pueblo
Balloon Company is the company to use.
First, here's what it isn't:
The hot-air balloon ride is extremely stable. We were surprised to
discover it was more like floating than flying. The stability keeps
you from becoming air sick. Because you have a giant balloon over
your head, you don't get the panic of being on top of a building.
We're told that a lot of people are scared, but ride anyway, and are then amazed
at how fun it is only moments after launch. What's a shame is the
number of people who don't ride because they think it's scary. There
were quite a few people in our group, and we were all unanimous ... we all
wanted to do it again. (We returned several months later and took the
ride again. This time, there was a hysterical young lady who was
coerced into riding by her two friends. As she felt the basket start
to move, she screamed and then stopped. She loved it, and thanked her
friends repeatedly for convincing her to go on the trip.) The hour
and a half felt like only a few minutes. While not cheap, it was worth
every penny.
After a beautiful landing |
But more on the
accommodations of Ed, the owner and primary pilot. Because I cannot
stand for over a few minutes at a time, I asked Ed if I could bring a stool
upon which to sit. Ed told me not to bring one -- that he'd bring one
for me. He also used a larger basket that day so I'd have a more
comfortable landing, and assisted me in getting into and out of the basket.
Even more amazing (I found this out from his son after the trip) is that he
could have put all the passengers that day in the large basket if it had
not been for my chair. He ran a second balloon, hired his son to pilot
it, and did it all to accommodate a handicapped person. When I found
out, I offered to pay the difference -- this wasn't a matter of tipping the
scale, Ed had spent real money on a second balloon, fuel, and pilot.
He refused, saying his only interest was that we had a good time. We
did, and that's an understatement. We've now made a second trip with
Ed, bringing our daughter and son-in-law, and have another trip planned
soon.
The Experience:
You barely feel the movement as you rise
above the ground and approach what has to be the best area in the country
for a hot-air balloon -- the Rio
Grande Gorge. You
gently descend down into the gorge, viewing the river below and evidence of
volcanic activity on the edges. This gorge was not created by erosion,
but by volcanic activity which split the earth.
You drift slowly down the gorge toward a famous bridge:
the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. 650' above
the Rio Grande, it is the fifth highest bridge in the U. S. The
bridge has appeared in Natural Born Killers, Twins, She's Having a
Baby, Wild Hogs, Terminator Salvation, and more.
You ascend within view of the bridge.
Suddenly, you're several feet above the ground and back over the plateau,
but it's so smooth you don't even feel it. He lands the balloon, you
may assist in packing the balloon (the "chase" crews were there within 60
seconds), and then you are driven to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Park for a
"breakfast" of fruit, snacks, soft drinks, and the traditional champagne.
How do they bring the balloon back? Winds
typically move in different directions at different altitudes. If the
winds are cooperating, the pilot simply finds a wind that is travelling the
way he wants to go, and then he makes his descent. He won't come back
to the launch site, but it keeps the balloon close to the chase crew.
In case you're curious, they don't hound you for
tips, but the "customary" tip is 10%. Ed shares it with the chase and
support crews ... you'd be surprised how many people are involved in getting
you off the ground and back to the park ... and they do it well.
That Morning:
You start out early in the morning
because that's when the wind is right. We skipped this treat on a
previous trip to the area because I didn't want to get up that early -- that
was a big mistake. It's worth it!
If your hotel is in Taos, the balloon company will
pick you up at your hotel. Otherwise, they'll meet you at a landmark
(such as Michael's Kitchen) and pick you up there. You can't take your
car to the launch site because you depart from several miles north of the
bridge, and end up at the park on the west side of the bridge. They
then return you to your hotel. (Even if they took you back to the
launch site, you'd never find it in the first place ... it's rather obscure,
and you might not want to drive your car down that road!)
What to Know:
Personal: It takes a little while to
get to the launch site, and about 30 minutes for them to get the balloon
ready. The balloon ride is about 1.5 hours, and, unless they have to
land in a very remote spot, it's another 30 minutes or so while they pack
the balloon and drive back to the park. It could be longer if the
winds don't cooperate. Obviously, there is no restroom on the balloon.
There is a restroom at the park, but not at the launch site. The
launch site is very remote, and there are several large bushes. In
short, depending upon your bladder, you might want to refrain from drinking
much that morning, and a trip to the restroom prior to being picked up is
strongly suggested. Another visit to one of the large bushes prior to
launch may also be in order ... several in our group took a "casual walk"
while waiting. Ed keeps a box of facial tissues in his truck.
Temperature: It can be a little cool,
especially if you're accustomed to 100 degree heat, as are us Texans.
Ed told us we'd be warm, and I was fine, but my wife was a little chilly,
especially at the park. The balloon was actually warmer, due to the
burners that heat the air. Bring a "medium" jacket and a camera.
Basket: The basket is very nice and
comfortable, but requires standing unless you make prior arrangements.
Timing: We started very early in the
morning, enjoyed our ride immensely, had snacks and champagne at the park,
and then found our way to a brunch at Michael's Kitchen. Since this is
early, you'll still have the afternoon free.
Champagne: Ed will explain why
champagne is served ... it's a tradition of hot-air ballooning. Then
again, who cares why as long as we get some?
Safety: Hot air balloons are the
safest method of air travel.
Ed: Everyone loved Ed. He is a
highly experience hot-air balloon pilot, and was extremely concerned with
our comfort. This man knows how to run a business.
Coincidence: What are the chances
that two families who know each other would take the same balloon flight on
the same day? Not only the same day, but in the same balloon (of two)?
Just after launch, a couple from Metairie, LA, saw a young lady (who was
there with her father and brother) from Houston, TX, and said she recognized
her. It seems the young lady had taken her mother to a particular
chiropractor's office in Houston when the lady from Metairie had worked
there as a physical therapist!
Click here for
another coincidence on the same trip.
PICTURES of OUR FLIGHT
Click on thumbnails to
view full-size picture.
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Fire to inflate the balloon |
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Launch! |
Ed, pilot and owner |
Leaving the launch site and the 2nd balloon |
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Approaching the Rio Grande Gorge |
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Descending into the gorge |
Our shadow on the gorge walls |
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The 2nd balloon makes its appearance |
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Webmasters |
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Out of the gorge, watching the 2nd balloon. See balloon's shadow
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Top -
buzzed by ultra light. Bottom -- gorge |
Deflating the balloon |
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Champagne and food! |
Click for story |
VIDEOS of OUR TRIP
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Files are large -- they may take several minutes to download
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