October 7, 2012

White Dog hopped up on the bed and announced, "it is that time of the year again!" It was just dawn but all of the White Dogs were awake and restless. The 2012 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is underway!

It is the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the world and has grown from 13 balloons at its inception in 1972 to over 600 balloons today. It is the most photographed event on earth. Held at Balloon Fiesta Park, the size of 54 football fields, the inflated balloons form a colorful phalanx rising taller than a house and during the morning mass ascensions which take place at dawn when the winds of Albuquerque's famous box are most favorable, 500+ balloons take off within two hours, an incredible sight both at the Field and all over our landscape as the shapes skate across our brightening blue morning skies.

While all of the WDA loves going up to the foothills to watch the scene, here in town and close to the balloons is painful for their ears. The sounds made by the propane-fueled heaters that cause lift in the balloons are beyond the human range of hearing but not for the pups...everyone who lives in town knows and expects the predawn howls and barks of irritation that greet us for these next 14 days.

But it IS without question an amazing Event and one we would like to share with some photos, past and present of Albuquerque's most special celebration...to see more visit the official website at http://www.balloonfiesta.com

Dawn Patrol goes up first in the dark to check wind and weather conditions. They give the official OK whether balloons will launch or not. This is an early morning sport fueled by hot coffee and breakfast burritos (and sometimes even mittens...the early morning desert is cold)!

Mass ascension never ceases to fill the heart with happiness as the sky becomes filled with hundreds of bright balloons.

Balloons spread out all over the valley some following the course of the Rio Grande.

Special shapes balloons are an annual crowd pleaser.

At twilight the crowds gather again (the morning flights are over by 9am and the winds are not right the rest of the day) for Glowdeo when the anchored balloons fire their flames in sync to music and the entire field becomes one amazing work of light and music.