The Four Corners Balloon Rally, held Friday though Sunday at Lake Farmington, brought 26 balloonists to the region. The weather was ideal for a mass ascension Friday morning at 7 a.m., but it did not cooperate Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday morning, a Tri-City Record vehicle was one in a long line slowly climbing the hill to Lake Farmington. The gate attendant directing traffic met them to announce that the balloon launch had been canceled.
Balloon Meister Doug Lenberg met with the pilots about 6:45 a.m. Saturday to discuss weather conditions and determined the wind speeds were unsafe for flight, according to an email from Gina Intoppa, Farmington’s integrated marketing and communications manager.
“We're very, very safety-conscious.” Lenberg told the Tri-City Record on Wednesday.
He said they utilized the flight services in Dallas to get a “weather synopsis and a weather briefing” because every balloon flight is registered, as each balloon is a FAA registered aircraft. And every balloon pilot must be licensed.
Lenberg said test balloons showed that winds were “going a lot faster” at higher altitudes that what was considered safe.
“You can't tell any pilot not to fly – it’s always their decision,” Lenberg said.
Lenberg said that on Friday, thousands of elementary school children came out to learn about ballooning . He said the principals were “all excited” and “if we even pick up two or three out of that thousands we're going to keep the sport going, buddy.”
The enthusiasm glows with every word about ballooning from Lenberg, who’s been in the sport for 35 years,
Lenberg, an American Heart Association spokesperson, said he suffered a widowmaker heart attack at 1500 feet in the air, but was able to land his balloon.
“I landed my aircraft safely and got to the hospital and I got stents in my heart,” he said.
Lenberg said he only does not for profit, “community-based rallies where tethered balloon flights have to be free, going to the elementary school has to be free and parking has to be free.
Involving businesses and the community in the sport is his “goal” and passion.
Rhonda Schaefer, marketing and public relations director for San Juan College, estimated that 8,000 to 10,000 people attended the balloon glow, with seven balloons, held Friday evening at the college.
Joe Tohonnie, Jr., and The White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers and the college African Drumming Ensemble performed for the large crowd, with Kevin Mauzy serving as emcee.
Entertainment included Balloon Twister Ruby Balloon and Mysto the magician, Schaefer said in an email on Tue. Blaze, the San Juan College Mascot, greeted visitors and kids.
“Student Engagement and Campus Life provided yard games including Connect Four, chess, ring tosses and Jinga. The Health and Human Performance Center provided yard games including Cornhole, Ladder golf, beanbag toss and spikeball,” Schaefer stated.
Food was available from a variety of vendors and and from Mary’s Kitchen, for the event that went from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Even though the wind may be calm on the ground, there can be dangerous winds at higher altitudes. Pilots use a pi-ball – a small helium party balloon – to get a visual representation of what the wind is doing a higher altitudes. If it reaches treetop level and shoots off very fast, a wind sheer is indicated.
These conditions prohibit a balloon launch.
Intoppa said that as soon as the decision to cancel, the public was notified.
“Knowing that the Sunday forecast was calling for even windier a.m. conditions,” Intoppa said they monitored the weather throughout the day. She said they had not improved by the evening balloon glow, so they “preemptively” decided to cancel the Sunday morning ascension to “give people ample notification.”
Weather was again a factor on Sunday morning, with strong winds and overcast conditions. By 5:30 a.m., the city had posted on its website that the ascension was canceled.
Intoppa said they had prepared for 30 balloons.
Some balloons flew on Friday morning under favorable weather conditions.
Intoppa told the Tri-City Record on Tuesday that 26 balloons participated. On Friday morning 8 balloons launched from local elementary schools and 11 ascended from Lake Farmington.
The Friday evening Balloon Glow at San Juan College drew a very large crowd and a variety of vendors.
Saturday evening the Balloon Glow lit up the night skies at the Farmington Museum and Visitors Bureau. There was a strong turnout for the impressive display of gas and fire to power the balloons.
Intoppa reported that they estimated the turnout for the Balloon Glow to be about 1500.
Balloons fly best in light and stable winds of 4-6 mph, with maximum safe winds of 8-10 mph. During inflation balloons are filled with cold air using a fan, which thus, wind speed is becomes a highly relevant safety factor.
Temperatures should also be mild, typically between 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with low humidity. Generally, most balloonists fly at sunrise or within an hour of sunset when winds are more likely to be calm.
“Regarding atmospheric pressure, hot-air balloons typically fly best when the barometric pressure is steady or rising,” according to this seattleballooning.com. “This is because “rising pressure can indicate good weather conditions and stability in the atmosphere.”
“Additionally, good weather for hot air ballooning typically includes clear visibility, with no fog or low clouds that could obstruct the pilot’s view or make it difficult to see potential hazards,” it states.
