I walked into a room seeing many familiar faces on Tuesday December 10, 1996 for the 6th invitational Continental Divide Hot Air Balloon Festival in Breckenridge, Colorado. Friends and families gather for this annual event usually held on Thanksgiving weekend, with great anticipation to fly over the continental divide.
It was a nice break from work and the hustle of getting ready for the holidays, to get away from my home in Vail. The evening's cocktail party was followed by the pilot briefing and all the pilots were being followed by the Westcom camera crew. They created the video of Albuquerque from the past two years and were in Breckenridge to film the event for the Outdoor Channel. Dr. Bill Bussey headed up the commentary for the weekend and was joined by 15 other pilots that were to fly. My guess is that there were 15 more pilots just along for the fun of crewing?? Lights, camera, action, it reminded me of Albuquerque. Ed Vande Hoef, organizer and fearless leader, led the briefing, sharing stories of his own travels across the divide. "It' can be an easy thing, if the weather and winds cooperate." Ed has been fooled by the wind on two rather exciting rides across. Pilots and crews listened and laughed, but carefully checked maps, took notes and got phone numbers. All were advised to fly with care, with provisions and of course with oxygen.
The forecast for Wednesday was not promising for any flying, just high winds and heavy snow. Only once in 1992, the second year, were the participants able to make the mass crossing over the divide and fly into the Fairplay area of central Colorado. I was lucky to be able to participate in that flight and take photographs, it was incredible.
"The nice part of this event," said Ed " is that if you can't balloon, then you can all go skiing." Wednesday morning we woke to a light snow and everyone did just that. Meeting for lunch on the mountain with the camera crew was just as entertaining as flying.
Thursday, several balloons set up for a morning tether, Phil Glebe, Jon Thompson and Bruce Bussey showed off their corporate balloons for the Breckenridge Resort guests. That evening, we all dined at a local restaurant shared the usual balloon stories with family and friends.
