David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Arches Nation Park by Hot-air Balloon

In 2012 I did an auto trip of Colorado and Utah and spent several days in Moab, Utah. While there I toured Canyonlands NP by 4WD and boat and Arches NP by 4WD. One day I again visited Arches NP with a hot-air balloon ride over it. It was spectacular, and I’m posting some pictures of that ride here.

The balloon ride started at dawn to have favorable (light) winds. Takeoff was from a field near the Canyonlands Airport north of Moab.

DSC_3390.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (a couple of arches visible at center)

Prepping the balloon for flight

DSC_3394.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3395.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3396.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (I entered the basket in this position)


DSC_3397.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3398.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3405.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Flame On!)


DSC_3403.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (Me, showing how close I was to the burners!)


Now under way

DSC_3406.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3407.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3425.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3443.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3445.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3446.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3449.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3450.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (our Pilot – check hat for company name)


DSC_3451.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3454.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3456.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3457.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3463.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


On the way down

DSC_3471.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr


DSC_3478.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr (instead of kissing the ground, we drank Champagne)

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent set, David!

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

In 2012 you say? That's the year I retired (technically from Canyonlands N.P., but more actually from the SEUG Group, which includes Arches N.P.), but I retired in January, so by the time you arrived and did your balloon flight, I no longer had my badge and (gov't issued) gun, and there was no way I was going to use my own gun or my own ammo to shoot down another one of those g-d balloons.

All kidding aside, as well as I know each and every one of the places in your shots, most are very definitely from points of view I've never seen, David. Nicely done. (Was the champagne properly chilled?)

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Cany143, thanks for your nice remarks. Our pilot was very concerned about the wind that day, because it was not very strong and he was afraid we'd not clear the bounds of the park before setting down, and there were penalties for landing in the park. We did make it to a spot outside, though.

Yes, the Champagne was chilled. Apparently a Champagne toast following a balloon ride is customary. I don't normally drink alcohol, but I made an exception in this case.

I had originally worried about access to the wicker basket, as I cannot climb very well. They solved the problem by having me get in and out while the basket was on its side, occupying the lower section in that position. Last September I used the same technique for a hot-air balloon ride in Kenya, Africa (which was a real hoot).