When Cory Johnson awoke, he was aware that it was a very significant day. The fact that a dozen strangers in a hot air balloon glided down to land on the empty property adjacent to her home in remote Taos, New Mexico, did not come as much of a surprise to her.
Sol Lothe, the proprietor of Rio Grande Balloons, was flying a rainbow-patterned balloon that was 97 feet tall when he asked the pilot, “Do you mind if we land here?”
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In response, Johnson stated, “Not at all.” Lothe and his ground team began the difficult job of deconstructing the balloon and loading it back onto his truck, which had followed the balloon along with radioed orders.
Soon after, the twelve passengers were crawling out of the wicker basket of the balloon in a clumsy manner.
Lothe gave Johnson a bottle of champagne as a parting gift as he left. This is a long-standing tradition among balloonists, who have little control over the direction in which the balloon travels and, as a result, regularly land on the property of strangers.
In the course of the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, which took place from October 25th to October 27th of this year, Lothe’s balloon was one of thirteen that were sent into the air.
Over the course of the rally, in addition to the mass ascension that took place on Saturday morning, there were also free tethered balloon rides for children, a trick-or-treat event that took place at night, and a festival that featured local vendors and artists.
The yearly event has been arranged to take place just a few weeks after the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. This has been the case for the past 41 years.
According to Lothe, who is the president of the association that organizes the event, the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally, which is located approximately 130 miles distant, provides a significantly different experience by comparison.
The statement made by Lothe was that “it has never been intended to be a tourist destination.” “It has always been a little bit smaller, with a greater emphasis on the community and the pilots who have supported the event over the years,”
Despite the fact that several medium-sized cities, such as Colorado Springs and Reno, host well-known ballooning events, Lothe asserts that rural villages, such as Taos, which are characterized by their breathtaking landscapes and expansive open spaces, are also excellent places to go ballooning.
In addition, New Mexico is a perfect location for ballooning throughout the entire year because to its dry temperature, favorable weather, and predetermined wind patterns.
The event is also an opportunity for Lothe, who owns a local hot air balloon business, to enhance the relationship between pilots and local people.
Many of the local households have been impromptu hosts for balloons and their passengers over the years. Lothe sees this as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between pilots and local inhabitants.
“The rally is an opportunity to give back to the community and to make ballooning something that the community of Taos looks forward to and looks upon with a positive light,” he added. “The rally is a chance to make ballooning accessible to the community.”
Although there were some spectators and pilots who traveled to Taos for the event, the majority of the attendees were locals who were able to enjoy front-row seats to the show and even participate in it themselves.
For the purpose of participating in the rally, Laurie Cheatham and her husband Paul traveled all the way from La Verne, California.
The balloon gear that Cheatham was using was put through its paces on Friday morning, while other pilots were taking schoolchildren on short rides.
The brilliantly colored balloon that she was carrying drew the attention of Aurora Billington, who was eleven years old, and her family. It wasn’t long before the Cheathams had assistance from three generations, which included putting weight on the balloon, finally assisting with deflating it, and putting it away.
When Dorothy Kaeck, a local midwife, arrived to the festival, she was surprised to find that she was able to participate in such a hands-on experience. “We’re feeling very lucky,” she announced.
According to Lothe, who is a balloon pilot and takes approximately 1500 passengers on flights each year, one of the most important aspects of the job is the opportunity to share this sensation of amazement and excitement with others.
He described the behavior as “so fantastical, dreamlike, and surreal,” and he said it. Throughout the duration of the journey, I frequently observe passengers going from being a bit anxious at the beginning to being completely awestruck by the entire experience.
Being able to share this experience with them, which will have a lasting impression on their life, is the thing that fascinates me the most.
Additionally, a Hot Air Balloon Festival for the Community, rather than for Tourists, is being held for residents of Taos, such as Cory, who lives in rural New Mexico.
At Johnson, one of the things that sets their community apart from others is the fact that they have the possibility to view balloons flying above them and even quite close to them.
According to Johnson, “It is a place like this that makes me feel extremely grateful to be able to call it home.”