Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta:   Oct 6-7, 2007

Dawn Patrol Oct 7th

Long before daybreak, pilots and their crews assemble on the chilly Fiesta grounds.   Anxious to assess the weather conditions, they turn to the 10 or 12 members of the  Dawn Patrol to make the first ascent and be the guides for the rest of the field.  

    By 6:30 am, the Dawn Patrol members are firing up their fans and burners to light up the predawn darkness.   On this particular occasion the winds were  brisk , lowering the possibility of a mass ascent.

    Meanwhile, traffic is backed up for miles in every direction as Fiesta goers wish they had gotten up earlier....most all balloons are up and gone by 8:30 A.M. !