It is hard to even think about Albuquerque, New Mexico without picturing the Sandia Mountains. For centuries, they’ve been an inspiration to anyone who has looked upon them: the native Americans, the early Spanish settlers who named the mountains "Sandia" ("watermelon"-for the color they turn at sunset) not to mention balloon pilots.
This beautiful and dramatic mountain range framing the east side of Albuquerque has long been the breathtaking backdrop for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF). On any clear, crisp, October afternoon-flight, as a balloonist watches the setting sun set the Sandias on fire in a beautiful crimson glow, the impulse to fly over them is irresistible.
I felt that impulse at my first Fiesta in 1980, when I joined my fellow balloon pilots from Napa Valley Balloons Inc (NVB). A few inquiries about such an adventure and I quickly learned that the topic of flying over the Sandias was practically taboo.
The previous year, a group of balloonists, ignoring a Flight Service warning of wind shears and turbulent conditions, tried to traverse the mountain. One balloon encountered a wind shear and "streamered." The two people aboard were killed. The AIBF discourages flights over the Sandias for good reason. Conditions can be volatile, unstable and dangerous.
Three of us from Napa Valley Balloons felt that, with the proper conditions, it was possible to make a safe and enjoyable passage. We had experience in mountain flying. We had flown together in the Rocky Mountains, and at Tahoe, Shasta and Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada, as well as in the Grand Canyon and of course the Napa Valley. Together we had about 12,000 hours total flying time.
We knew there were several conditions to consider. The west face of the Sandias is rugged, rocky and very steep, rising to 10,852 feet, and usually it is the windiest side of the mountain. The east face slopes gently, is covered with pine trees and has generally gentler winds. Also the winds in the valley east of the Sandias can be of a different direction and velocity. Fast winds aloft over the summit create a vertical vortex on the leeward side of the mountain-a rotor effect. This downward rotor movement can force a balloon down. Route 14, which runs north-south 10 miles east of the Sandias, is the closest paved road for crew access to landing sites.
Ideal conditions would be clear skies, calm at the surface, slow westerly winds aloft, continuing over the mountains to Route 14.
Every year at the Fiesta we would cast a wistful eye at the weather checking for these conditions. And year after year there were high winds, or rain, or clouds on the summit-one year it even snowed. We were beginning to think that taking our crew on the tram to dinner at High Finance was the only way we would get to the top of the Sandias.
Finally in 1990, the National Weather Service reported that a high pressure system would be dominating the Albuquerque area for the duration of the Fiesta. This could be the year!
After the opening Fiesta weekend of mass ascensions and all-night parties, we decided to pursue our dream. Checking with Flight Service, we were excited to find ideal conditions: winds aloft at 12,000 feet were 260 at 15 knots; at 18,000 feet winds were 270 at 22 knots, with calm surface conditions. We called John, one of our crew who lived east of the Sandias, and he reported calm surface conditions there. We were on!
Armed with experience, perfect conditions, and a healthy respect for the mountains, we decided to attempt the flight. Tuesday afternoon, we launched from a baseball diamond near the base of the tramway that carries visitors to the top of the Sandias. Kim Kliest and Jay Kimball, two fellow Napa Valley Balloon pilots and I launched together, each piloting a Balloon Works AX-8.
As we ascended, we flew parallel to the tramway, waving to the tram passengers as we passed. Our wind velocity never exceeded 12 knots, as we ascended the west face of the Sandias. I adjusted altitude slightly to cross over the tramway, and to fly in front of, and over the High Finance Restaurant at the crest of the mountain. Hang gliders, launching at the crest, decided to join us. High Finance customers gazing out the restaurant window were surprised to have a private aerial show added to the view.
What an incredible experience-to be flying at the summit of the Sandias, looking the High Finance customers in the eye as they smile and wave, with hang gliders gracefully swooping about us in a crystal blue sky! It was a perfect moment in life you could only experience in a balloon.
Approaching the summit, we did not experience any increase in velocity. Therefore, I didn’t anticipate a strong rotor effect, and did not increase altitude significantly as we flew over the summit.
Our crew, waiting for us on the back (east) side of the Sandias, reported surface winds at three knots out of the west. Perfect for us to target landing fields close to Route 14. All three of our balloons landed not more than 200 feet from Route 14 and within 100 yards of each other. An all around perfect flight!
On Wednesday, the wind and weather conditions held. Our second flight was a perfect encore experience to the delight of ourselves, our crew and our friends.
At the Fiesta field early the next morning, we were greeted with questions and curiosity about our flights. We were surprised at the excitement our adventure had created. Apparently, as interest grew, so did the story. As only balloonists can "inflate" a story, we heard that we had not only flown over the Sandias twice (true), but that we had been carrying commercial passengers for $1000 a person! (false, unfortunately). We did like the idea. It might be the only way to make a living ballooning!
Thursday afternoon, we called Flight Service and found that conditions had changed: winds aloft at 12,000 feet were 27 knots, and at 18,000 feet were 35 knots. Both were coming more from the south at 240 . A few cirrus clouds appeared to the west. Within the next two days, the high pressure system would start breaking down and move east. The perfect conditions were beginning to deteriorate, but they provided more of a challenge which we felt was well within our limits of skill and experience. It would probably be our last chance to make the flight.
At 4:30 PM, three of us were ready to launch at the baseball diamond. The surface winds were about 6 knots, compared to the calm conditions of the previous day.
We ascended at about the same rate of speed, but at 1000 feet AGL, the balloons began to separate, going in different directions. Two of the balloons went due east. I went due west, away from the Sandias. I knew if I kept climbing to a higher altitude, the winds would change back toward the east. At 3000 feet AGL, my basket began to sway, and the envelope made a groaning sound. I changed directions to the northeast, and my velocity increased to about 20 knots. I continued to ascend to 13,000 feet MSL, clearing the summit, and remaining high to avoid any rotor effect on the leeward side of the mountain.
On the two previous days, a friendly westerly wind helped us reach our targeted landing site at Route 14. But today, as I descended below 1000 feet AGL, the winds in the valley east of the Sandias were heading north. Our crew, waiting on Route 14, reported surface winds at 10 knots heading north.
With the exception of a few scattered fields, the gentle eastern slopes of the Sandias are covered with pine trees, almost all the way to Route 14. I began to look for alternative landing sites. One of the fields was next to a group of four houses, about a quarter-mile north of me. I felt this was the best landing site. We were in an unfamiliar area with no real landmarks, and we’d have access to telephones and vehicles in case our crew couldn’t find us.
The other pilots had successfully crossed the peaks, and were about one mile south of me. I radioed news of the landing site to them. Then I radioed the crew and tried to describe where we would land.
I landed in the quarter-acre field at about 10 knots, with the other pilots joining me a few minutes later. The crew had seen us land, but were at least 5 miles away. They said there was a maze of dozens of dirt roads heading from the main highway towards us. They had no idea how to proceed, and asked for help.
After a chat with a friendly landowner, we found that only one of the roads would actually make it all the way to our location. I knew it would be impossible to guide them by radio through 5 miles of dirt roads and scrub fields that all looked the same. It was Russian roulette. I told them to just pick a road, head west and hope for the best. Miraculously, to the credit of our crew, they picked the right road on the first try.
That was in 1990. Every year since, good weather conditions have eluded us. But you can bet that every year on any given clear, crisp, October afternoon- flight, as the setting sun sets the Sandias on fire in a crimson glow, this balloonist casts a wistful eye toward the Sandias, grateful for the memory, and looking for the opportunity for the next adventure.