The Mass Ascension is an awesome event. You cannot possibly immagine all that is going on unless you are on the field. This event is unlike any other Balloon event in the world. You are encouraged to become a crew member and participate in the launching of a balloon. But even if you are not a crew member you are allowed to walk amongst the Balloons as they are preparing and being launched. This is not the case in many locations. This is an international event as balloons come from all over the world. The cost to the balloon owners is $0. The city pays all costs of bringing the balloonist to the event. Shipping from anywhere in the world, accomodations, Fuel costs etc. The City reaps in Millions of dollars from this hugh event.
Part of being a hugh event is the massive traffic jams everyday in the morning and evening. It has taken people hours to get to the balloon field. Our observation is that the best way to take in the event is by RV. You park in close proximity to the balloon field and have roving buses to take you to the field which takes about ten minutes. Also as you have seen from our last posts even if you don't go to the field the balloons come right over your RV as well and also land nearby.
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| FIRST STEP AS SEEN FOR LAUNCHING A HOT AIR BALLOON IS TO COLD INFLAT THE BALLOON WITH A GASOLINE POWERED FAN |
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| THIS BALLOON IS BEING COLD INFLATED |
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| NOW HOT AIR INFLATING |
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| TESTING THE BURNER |
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| THE CROWD AND BALLOONS IN VARIOUS STAGES OF INFLATION |
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| THE FIRST BALLOON LAUNCHED RAISING THE AMERICAN FLAG |
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| THE FIRST GROUP UP |
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| MORE BALLOONS UP AND MORE GETTING READY |
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| MASS ORGANIZED CONFUSION |
This really is not mass confusion. The field, which is hugh, is broken up into quadrants. Each quadrant has many many balloons and a safety/launch director (called a zebra because of the black and white "ref" shirt). Once the balloons are hot inflated the director points to and gives a thumbs up to the balloon that is to launch. Although the balloons are all bunched together, only one takes off at a time from each quadrant. This proceedure allows seperation of balloons in the quadrant and between quadrants.
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| THE COW IS HUGE IT DID NOT GET UP TODAY BUT WE DID SEE IT UP ANOTHER DAY |
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| MORE BALLOONS ALMOST READY TO LIFT OFF |
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| DARTH VADER |
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| GETTING ALITTLE CROWDED |
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| AND MORE CROWDED |
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| SORRY BACKSIDE OF SMOKY THE BEAR |
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| NOAHS ARK |
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| NOTE: THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE ALLOWED TO BE ON THE FIELD AROUND THE BALLOONS |
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| ALL THE BALLOONS - SIMPLY AWSOME (UP TO 700) |
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| NOAHS ARK ALOFT |
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| KISSING COUSINS |
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| LION KING UP UP AND AWAY |
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| READY |
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| SET |
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| FLY |
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| THIS IS A VERY LARGE BALLOON |
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| I'M A GONNA GET THOSE BALLOONS |
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| GAS BALLOON UNDE POWER THAT'S ALL FOLKS WE ARE OFF TO MEXICO |
