Adirondack Balloon Flights Blog

April Trip to Grand Junction, CO

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:03:02 +0000

While I wait for the grass to dry some so I can go mow, after our latest 2 day, 2 + inch rain event, thought that I would blog on a non-balloon related event, an April trip out to Grand Junction, CO to visit with our son Grant and his family. It’s our 4th time to Colorado (2-Golden, 1-Denver/Edwards/Grand Junction, 1-just Grand Junction), since Grant and Katia moved down from Anchorage, Alaska 4 years ago. Up until this trip, we haven’t had much luck with the weather in Colorado. We got snowed-on both trips to Golden, 1 in late April and 1 early November, rain and snow on the last trip to Edwards & Grand Junction, tho it was nice for the Denver part, but we only got rain as we got off the plane in Grand Junction this time around. It’s funny, we visited Grant 3 times up in Alaska during the winter and had great weather on all 3 trips, and, he moves to the high desert which is Colorado, that’s noted for dry wx and sun, and we get rain/snow during our spring and fall trips, except for this time, it was sunny and warm in Junction after rain the night of our arrival in GJT.

Since we wanted to fly direct to Grand Junction, this removed our usual go-to choice of Southwest, and flew United instead. We found the United experience to be pleasant and efficient, except for the beater regional jet (a Canadair RJ700 operated by Mesa Airlines) we flew from Alb (Albany) to ORD (O’Hare) on the way out.

Boarding Mesa Airlines beater RJ700 in Albany, a poor choice by United for a regional carrier.

The light show in the tunnel walkway between Concourse B & C, Terminal 1 at O'Hare in Chicago.

United's 757-220 we flew both ways between Denver and O'Hare was a very comfortable plane.

The RJ145 operated by ExpressJet Airlines for the short, 1 hour hop over the Rockies, also was a very comfortable plane to ride.

So, all-in-all, other than the Mesa Airlines beater jet, United was a pleasant experience getting to GJT on time.

View of the Rockies from our Embraer RJ145.

Well, it’s time to mow, before the storms coming with the cold front get here. I’ll finish this trip blog as a part II.

Recent Flights and Balloon Ride Flying Weather for this Week

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:53:32 +0000

It truly was a beautiful weekend, tho a bit windy for doing balloon rides in the afternoon. I managed to fly one group of ladies who came up from the Astoria, NY area on Saturday morning to go on a hot air balloon ride with me over beautiful Washington County.

My ladies from Saturday morning.

Our weather forecast this week is similar to the last two, rain during the week, with drying toward the weekend. Right now, it’s looking like one less day of rain with drying starting on Thursday this week, right through early next week. I have space available on some of my flights this weekend, so if you are interested in flying, give me a call @ 518-793-6342 or contact me through my web site, adirondackballoonflights.com.

Recent Balloon Flight and Current Balloon Ride Flying Weather Forecast

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:26:53 +0000

Last Sunday morning was great for getting out for a hot air balloon ride. I flew a young couple who was celebrating an 18th birthday and just being up in the air enjoying a beautiful early spring morning.

Taylor and Cody on the Sunday morning balloon ride, celebrating Cody's 18th birthday!

Now for the hot air balloon ride forecast portion, the weather forecast for the week is pretty similar to last week. Wet during the week, with drying and some sun toward the weekend, with wet weather again next week. The only potential fly in the current weekend forecast is for a possible frontal passage during the day on Sunday, which if it happens, will affect our Sunday flights. I will update this portion of the forecast as we get closer to the weekend.

On a longer range outlook, if you read the CPC (Climate Prediction Center) 6-10 & 8-14 day forecast discussion, you see that we stay fairly wet and warm through middle of the 4th week of this month. And, the CPC seasonal outlook discussion, shows us being above normal on the temps starting in June, right through the May, June, July forecast period of 2013, but, nothing but equal chance for wetter than/dryer than as far as a precipitation forecast during that time frame. The CPC Monthly & Seasonal Outlook Maps graphically show the same.

I know this is probably more info/detail than most want, but this is what the National Weather Service is advertising for our seasonal weather as of this posting which was made middle of April.

Weekend Weather and early Next Week.

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:44:57 +0000

The forecast for the weekend looks sunny and dry, right into Monday after a cloudy/rainy week. Then, it returns to the same-old same-old of.., cloudy, damp and unsettled. The late winter/early spring weather started out hot and dry – we nearly hit 90′ in mid March, and what there was for a ski season ended early. Then, in April the weather started to turn a bit to now that it’s May, we’re back to the weather we’ve been getting the last couple of years; long periods of unsettled with short breaks of sunny weather in between. While it’s too early to call it a trend for the flying season, and the long range NWS Climate Prediction Center forecast is calling for a greater chance of above average temps and equal chance of wet or dry through the summer. But, I’m sticking with my cooler than and dryer than normal, once we get past May.

Hot Air Balloon Ride Flying Weather into the coming Weekend

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:48:38 +0000

The latest forecast for the Lake George area remains rather unsettled for the balance of the week and into the early part of the coming weekend. We are hoping for improving hot air balloon ride flying weather for the later part of the weekend. And, after possibly a nice Monday, unsettled weather returns on Tuesday. The Weather Service is calling this a low confidence forecast in their forecast discussion. We will update the flying weather for our weekend hot air balloon rides closer to the weekend, when the forecast models will hopefully get a clearer picture of what to expect for this weekend.

Hot Air Balloon Rides

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:57:09 +0000

: Our Peacock VIII Hot Air Balloon ready to ride

Baker and I am ready to start flying again, and begin our 2012 hot air balloon rides, except our balloon ride flying weather isn’t looking the best over the weekend. Wind and cold will probably keep us grounded for our opening weekend, hey it’s early so we don’t mind. We’re looking forward to meet some new folks from near and far, and share our special experience and area with them. So it’s time to get your reservation in for our 2012 Flying Season.

The view inside our Peacock Hot Air Balloon, and customers helping with the inflation.

A family from Bogota, Columbia that included a hot air balloon ride with us in their itinerary last summer.

Baker and I really enjoy doing these Private Hot Air Balloon Rides for proposals of marriage.

The view from the under side of our Peacock Hot Air Balloon.

Safety Seminar Weekend

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:21:28 +0000

This past weekend, down in Saratoga Springs, was the New York State Hot Air Balloon Safety Seminar. It’s an event that is coordinated by a volunteer group of local balloonists’. This is a good time of year for a get-together like this since the flying weather usually isn’t that good, which it wasn’t that morning, and travel usually isn’t hampered by winter weather.

Guy from the Albany National Weather Service Forecast Office talking to the group-sorry about the pic quality.

Some of the group in the lecture hall at the safety seminar.

A break-out session with some of the equipment that was on display

I expect to start my flying season the weekend of the 28th/29th of April. I’ll post more detail on that later for you.

Welcome to Spring!

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:06:34 +0000

Well, it’s officially Spring by the calendar. And it’s looking and feeling like it out there this week. This is truly a strange year weather wise. Last year we were getting snow regularly in March, this year, my forsythia is blooming, a full month ahead of it’s usual schedule.

My forsythia getting ready to bloom a month ahead of schedule

It’s looking like an early flying season for us. Flight area just needs a little dry-time, and with the near 80′ temps we are forecast to get this week, it should make it happen!! Happy Spring Everyone!

Weekend Doings

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:51:41 +0000

Saturday, wifey and I headed out to Washington County to visit some of our fav places for eats, take-outs to bring back home, and some of the best maple syrup available. A trip like this takes us out to some places that I’ve written about before, out toward Salem which is near the VT border. We stopped at the Battenkill Valley Creamery, on County Route 30 near Salem, for some of their fantastic ice cream for an evening dinner party, and fresh eggs for our Sunday morning breakfast. Next, we headed for Salem and lunch at Steininger’s. This place is our fav go-to place when we feel like a drive out into the country and lunch you typically don’t find in a sleepy town like Salem.

The main drag and only traffic light in Salem

Worth the drive from anywhere, Steininger's

Next, we headed out toward Vermont to get some good maple syrup, at the Mountain Valley Maple Farm, on State Highway 153 in West Rupert VT. Sorry, but I don’t have any pics of their sugar operation. They weren’t boiling sap when I got there because the temps were too cold that day for sap to run. Anyhow, these folks make the best maple syrup, get yourself some.

On the New York/Vermont border. Sign says West Rupert was chartered 1761, truly small town Americana at it's best.

Golden goodness, that was very yummy on my blueberry pancakes that wifey made for us on Sunday morning

Here's the info where you can get yourself some. Click the pic, it enlarges. They ship anywhere.

March has Arrived!

Adirondack Balloon Flights — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:44:20 +0000

March came in like a Lion-sorta. We got around 8″s of snow-a big deal this year.

Backyard view off the deck this morning.

So, maybe it goes out like a lamb and we get an early spring flying season?