by Mandy Johnson
It started quite simply with a local who hired
a balloon to tether for a party. Smitten by the balloon bug, he urged the
local Arts Council to put together a balloon event. Yelm, Washington, a
very small community, is uniquely located near Fort Lewis and most of it's
airspace is encompassed in one of three overlapping MOA's. To the north,
you can routinely hear the firing of all arrays of armaments. To the west,
trees as far as the eye can see up to Olympia and a brief view of the capital
building with Puget Sound in the distance. To the east is majestic Mount
Rainier, many lakes and magnificent views. Not a normal hotbed of balloon
activity.
The first two years of the event were little more than night glows due to poor weather. This year started out on a positive note. The pilots checked in July 25, at a local grass airstrip where the Chamber hosted a barbecue. Included was a gyrocopter ride for anyone who wanted to go up. As a spontaneous gesture of goodwill Dolye Hartman set up his balloon to give those unfamiliar with balloons a few pointers and mini glow.
Two days of great flying conditions ended on Sunday morning with all five balloons landing in the same field and then offering tether rides for an hour to anyone who happened by.
Enroute to that final landing is one of the landowner stories that you like to report. A large man-made water ski lake lay directly in the path of the balloons. As the balloons descended for the obligatory splash 'n dash one balloon drifted over to the shore. A woman appeared from one of the large homes around the lake and met the balloon at the shoreline. When asked for permission to land the pilot was advised that this was a private, gated community and to please leave. And, get the other balloons out of the water. Oh well, back into the air.
The crew in the meantime came in contact with the landowner who was very excited about the balloons being at the lake. Wow, what a photo-op to help sell that expensive real estate around the lake. He definitely wants the balloons back. The woman was the caretaker and was just doing her job.
The community has found lots of support for next year's event and can hardly wait for the balloons to return.