“May the winds welcome you with softness, may the sun bless you with its warm hands, may you fly so high and so well that God joins you in laughter and sets you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth.” – The Balloonist’s Prayer
From my perch in the sky, the view over the Sonoran Desert was sublime. It’s one thing to explore this landscape on foot; it’s another to experience it from a bird’s-eye perspective. Only then are the wonders of this scenery fully appreciated.
I was on a sunrise hot-air balloon flight with Rainbow Ryders in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. Founded in 1983, Rainbow Ryders has a stellar reputation in the industry and an impeccable safety record. The company offers flights in several Southwest locations with its fleet of forty balloons.
Debbie Stone
Balloon envelope expanding
The day began early with transport to the launch site. There we watched the crews inflate the balloons via motorized fans. The “envelope” (balloon’s fabric) filled with air and the propane burners ignited to heat the air inside. Meanwhile, the sun rose, painting the eastern sky fiery orange.
Soon the balloon was ready for flight. Before taking off, we learned how to get in and out of the balloon’s basket. No need to worry about being graceful!
The basket I was in held sixteen people plus the pilot. Each of the compartments fit four passengers. The pilot takes centerstage to operate the burners. We would be standing for the entire flight.
After launching, we gradually floated upwards. It was amazing how light the balloon felt as it gently traveled through the air. And it was so peaceful, as the only sounds were the burners and the whoosh of air.
At lower altitudes, our pilot Kyle pointed out the iconic saguaro of this region. It’s the largest cactus in the country, with heights up to fifty feet.
Debbie Stone
Hot air balloons from above
At higher elevations, we had a marvelous panorama of the valley, the surrounding White Tank Mountains and Lake Pleasant. We also saw housing developments sprawling across the valley floor and a system of canals bringing drinking water to the area.
During the ride, Kyle regaled us with stories about proposals he’s witnessed aboard the balloon. Most ended positively, however he’s seen a few that had unfortunate conclusions, like the guy who let the ring slip from his fingers and out of the balloon. The woman he was proposing to lit into him with a vengeance until he pulled out the real ring. Kyle said it was a gutsy move for the guy, but it made for a very dramatic flight.
As for our ride’s stats, we topped out at 7,000 feet, and went a total of 10 miles at a maximum speed of 33 mph.
To land, we crouched down, held on to two handles and leaned right, while Kyle smoothly brought the balloon down. The crew was there to help take down the balloon, as they also serve as “chasers,” following the balloon’s path during its flight.
Once on terra firma, we celebrated with a traditional toast of champagne, as Kyle recited, “The Balloonist’s Prayer.”
Book your flight at rainbowryders.com/locations/phoenix.
Plan your visit to the Valley of the Sun at visitphoenix.com or experiencescottsdale.com.