Our balloon flight began at sunrise early one spring day. Our pilot, Roy Foote, believes mornings are the safest and most enjoyable time to fly; we had postponed the trip several times, waiting for the perfect sunny morning without heavy winds.

A half dozen other hot air balloonists joined us at the county fairgrounds in Boise, Idaho. Crew members for each of the balloons were scurrying around, filling the balloon envelope with cool air from big fans and taking care of last minute details.

When we finally lifted off, it was truly delightful. It was not scary; in fact, it was remarkably peaceful and relaxing.

The breezes above Boise are moving in layers; this allows pilots to choose speeds - and even direction - by merely raising or lowering the balloon with a burst of the propane flame. The history of hot air balloons dates back to the 18th century, when balloonists used fires of straw to lift the balloons skyward.

FAQ's and Glossary for Ballooning

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