February 2000
(ISSN 0887-6061) is
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MAGAZINE
February 2000
Editor-In-Chief
Publisher
Tom Hamilton
Contributing Editors
Ron Behrmann, George Denniston,
Greg Livadas, Mike Rose, Peter Stekel
Columnists
Don Piccard
Staff Photographer
Ron Behrmann
Jim Dorsey, David Gifford
Tom Gough, Carson Lane
Alan Sanderson, Robert Shaw
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Fax: 206-935-3326
e-mail: tom@balloonlife.com
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Phone: 206-935-3649
InJanuary1964thesportofmodernhotair ballooningwasinitsinfancy.The
relatively new California Balloon Club scheduled aFédération AéronautiqueInternatio-
nale sanctionedballoonrace. Arealballoonrace fromthetownof AvalononSanta
Catalina island offthe California coast back to the mainland. The event would be covered
by TV andprint publications suchasSports Illustrated. The top three prizes would be
a TV set, a fur wrap, and a case of champagne.
After a number of weather related delays the balloon finally took to the air. Only one
pilot, Ed Yost, would make land fall. By the following day modern hot air ballooning’s
firstcasualtyhadbeenrecorded.BarbaraKeith,aVermontgrandmother,wouldbe
foundinthe water, tethered toher deflatedballoon.
Robert Shaw, then working for the Civil Aeronautics Board, Bureau of Safety, later
tobecome the NationalTransportation SafetyBoard,wasassigned toinvestigate the
accident. InBalloon Life’sSpecial Report this month, Mr. Shaw recounts his investiga-
tionof this tragic accident.
Balloon Life spoke with several participants of this race. Ed Yost, whenhe thinks
backonthatday,talksaboutsomeof thegoodandfunnyexperiences.Then,when
thinking about Mrs. Keith, becomes so emotional and upset that he can not, or will not,
talk about it. Don Piccard reflecting on Mrs. Keith also becomes very emotional. Unlike
Ed, he is not at a loss of words to describe his thoughts on what happen. Words will not
print here.
Whatwastohave been a banner dayfor ballooning still holds lessons for balloon
racing today.The 1964 Catalina Channel Balloon Racebeginson page 14.
JimDorsey hasonce againlefthis warmsouthernCaliforniahometoventure to
Gallup, New Mexico for the annual Red Rock Balloon Rally. Morning low temperatures
this year fell tozero degrees. On Saturday andSunday the winds were near perfect for
flying in an outof the red rockcanyons.
Flying in Red Rock State Park is a unique experience, using box winds to navigate
andthen drop intocanyonshundreds of feetdeep.Come backout andlandto change
passengers and repeat the ride. But, one doesn’t want to fly just any where. The pilot map
has warningslikeflapping fabric forest, use kite or flares to signal the chase crew, or
rugged country-deep canyons.
Thisyearapproximately185balloonsparticipated.Thatmakesthisoneofthe
largestballoonralliesintheworld. Heldinverycoldconditionsandwitha minimal
budget, this turnout is areal testament to beautiful flying. Karl Lohmann, Peter Procopio,
and the community of Gallup have created a unique balloon event. I had the opportunity
to attend for the first time this year. Now Iknow why Jim, and so many others, keep going
back.Gallup-One More Timebegins onpage 20.
