July 1999
the “Texas Alps” notonly
providesanopportunityforsomechal-
lengingflyingbythepilotsbutoffersa
varietyofactivitiesforcrewandspon-
sors.Fourteenpilotsgatheredforathe
Memorial Day Rally at Alpine, Texas that
startedwithtraditionalflightsfromthe
launch site to the local airport where most
oftheballoonslandedwithinamileof
each other. After the flights on Saturday,
therewasa“Vulture Hunt”thathadpi-
lots,crew,andsponsorsscramblingfor
everythin gfromre-corkedchampagne
bottles to “devil’s whiskers” (a local dried
seedpod).Saturdayeveningthepilots
decoratedtheirchase vehiclesmounted,
theburners anddrove throughtownin a
“Parade of Fire” followed byanevening
barbecue at Dee Crabtree’s property. Dee
isapilotfromAustin,Texas,400miles
fromAlpine.Heandhiswifewereso
enchantedbytheareaaftertheirfirst
balloon event there, they bought property
and plan to build in the future—a friendly,
new landing site.
Sundayhada weather phenomenon
in which the winds blew at 10 to 12 miles
anhouruntil7:35a.m.just5minutes
longer thanpredicted bylocalcrew. The
winddroppedtolightandvariable until
9:30a.m. Theballoonstookoff at8:00
a.m. and had a traditional flight. After the
flight the crews and sponsors participated
inthe first “Ballompics.”
The“Ballompics”weregamesthat
included “folleyball” played inside an in-
flatedballoon>Tossingthehammer
baggie,throwing the javelinpen and the
discus plate, and doing the ten gallon dash
roundedoutthecompetition.Thewin-
ningsponsorwasWestTexasUtilities.
The winning pilot was Lisa Eastin of New
Braunfels.Texas,secondplacewentto
RaineyofSanAngelo,andJim
Moore of Artesia,New Mexico.
The Alpine Chamber of Commerce,
supportedbymostof thelargeproperty
owners welcomedthe balloonists witha
Capital of Texas” that includes two rallies
a year and some very special motel, res-
taurant, and merchant offers for any bal-
loonist or balloon crewwho visits Alpine.
flying. Bottom: Non-ballooning competition included “folleyball” played inside an
inflated envelope.
