The hospitable folk who call the beautiful Yreka area their home go all out for this event each September. This year it started with a theme dinner for pilots, sponsors, media, crew, and anyone else who wanted to join in on the fun. The Miner’s Inn was all decked out in an old western 49er motif, with streamers and balloons and an “assay office.” At each pilot’s table was a gold pan with gold (painted) nuggets and a portrait of the pilot’s own balloon—what a reception from the community!!
On Friday morning, the 30+ balloons were launched from the small town of Fort Jones, about 15 miles southwest of Yreka, one of the two locations that take turns hosting this event. This was the first of two hound and hare races during the weekend. The flight was short, as balloonmeister Jeanne Anson, followed by the other pilots, caught a breeze that took her westward down the shorter of the two valleys. As a matter of fact, almost everyone landed on the same landowner’s property. Talk about drop-in company. Karen Brown in “Falling Star” from Reno garnered the first place spot for Friday. Of course, tailgating, visiting, and touring of the midway’s food and craft booths occupied the rest of the morning.
On Saturday, a large crowd of eager spectators was out early to catch a glimpse of the five-balloon dawn patrol. This is always a magical moment. Stars twinkle in the cool, black sky; pilots and crew bask in the red-orange glow from burners; and ooh’s and ah’s rise above the soft voices of the crowd. This morning there were the usual strobe flashes from hopeful photographers, but no camera can accurately capture the awesome atmosphere of a dawn patrol as it rises gently toward the heavens.
The magic didn’t disappear after the sun came up, either, as Jeanne Anson led the pilots on a gentle jaunt south across the Scott Valley and river. About the time she set down, the winds shifted and calmed, stacking the valley with colorful balloons all dressed up with no place to go. While this made for a great photo opportunity for spectators, and put crews in a restful “park” mode, the scenery soon got old for pilots and passengers. But good things come to those who wait, and after about an hour the breeze brought many of the gentle giants right back to—or at least near—the launch field. The close score this time was earned by Bob Linde from Point Arena in “Daybreak.”
On Saturday evening, the local Rotary and ranchers Jim and Donna Langford put on a large “Langford Style Pit Barbeque” at the launch field, which they also had thoughtfully made available. The turkey and beef feed was followed by Jeanne Anson’s announcement of the awards: Dennis Biro (4th), Dawn Grant (3rd), and Larry Seiler (2nd). First-time invitee Tony Hesch of Truckee in “Scarlet Ribbons” won the coveted first-place “Pan-O-Gold” trophy, a gold miner whose pan contains real gold flakes. Music, cowboy poetry, and clogging wrapped up the evening.
That night a storm front passed through, and Sunday was a no-fly day. Even so, spectators were pleased with their tether rides.
Plans are already under way for next year’s event, so make it part of your plans.
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