On September 19, 1783, Pilatre De Rozier, a scientist, launched the first hot air balloon, called "Aerostat Reveillon." The passengers included a sheep, a duck, and a rooster, and the balloon stayed in the air for a grand total of 15 minutes before crashing back to the ground.
On January 5, 2006, we followed in there footsteps aboard the "Velvet," run by Wild West Balloon Adventures. On an absolutely perfect blue-sky day in Steamboat, we climbed in the basket, and before we knew it, we were soaring at 10,000 feet, almost as high as Mt. Werner itself.
And what a view! We could see from Hayden Airport in the north to Saddle Back Ranch in the south and from Fish Creek Falls in the east and across the massive expanse of the Rocky Mountains to the west, and everything in between.
We were picked up from our hotel at 8:30am and were taken to the launch field, where we enjoyed a light continental breakfast while the balloon was being inflated.
The basket holds eight passengers, plus the pilot, and whilst it is a little cramped, it is not uncomfortably so. The basket is divided into five sections, four for passengers and one for the pilot; each section holds two people. The pilot is in constant communication with his ground crew and Hayden Airport and tracks his position and elevation via onboard GPS.
The view is awesome as you drift along the valley. The pilot alters altitude several times to use different air currents, so we seemed to follow a circular pattern through the valley, landing only 50m from our launch point. He was also able to rotate the balloon so we were not stuck looking at the same view during the 1-hour flight.
The ride was surprisingly smooth; there was no turbulence or bumps, and you have no sensation of movement or speed. In fact, the only sound to be heard is the periodic whoosh of the burner. Everything was so peaceful that in no time at all our hour was up and we were making preparations for landing.
After the flight, the next basket load hopped in and we were driven back to the launch field for a champagne celebration and certificate presentation. The origin of the champagne celebration can also be traced back to France in the late 1700s. Balloon flights were met by irate farmers and thought to be demons set forth by King Louis XVI. In order to appease the landowners, the pilots began to carry champagne with them, and the tradition stands today.
A half hour flight costs $125 and a hour is $185. This includes hotel transfers, the continental breakfast, the champagne celebration, and your flight certificate. You should wear warm comfortable boots or shoes and layered clothing, as temperatures are normally warmer in the balloon. There are limited restroom facilities at the launch site.
For more pictures and information please visit my website www.shanecurrie.id.au