Hot Air Balloons still provide core memories despite high winds

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI)- Every August, the City of Ammon comes together and celebrates the city's heritage during Ammon Days.

Sunday Morning, they were hoping to have another shot at launching Hot Air Balloons. However, due to bad winds in the sky, they ended up not launching.

Some of the balloon pilots did allow many of the children to get in the balloon basket and take a short hop in the basket.

Many of the people at McCowin Park still were excited to see the balloons up close.

"I think that made it really, really fun because being able to walk in from back there, getting to see them from the ground, even the pilots are so nice, they just let you walk up, talk to them, look at their equipment. It's really, really, really cool," said Elizabeth Krell.

"We were here for the night glow and we missed the launch yesterday, so they (her kids) really wanted to come and see the launch. So. And it's my birthday so I could make them get out at 7 a.m.," said Tatiana Crandall.

"I've just always wanted to come out and see them lift off. And I thought it would be a fun time," said Lisa Talamantez.

Many had seen Hot Air Balloons in the sky but noted that seeing them so close was something new.

"It's really, really fun to get to explain it to them (her kids). But it's also kind of fun to put that burden on someone else," said Krell.

"I heard they're not going to launch today because of the winds, the unstable winds above us. But it's still really cool to see them all blowing up," said Crandall.

Talamantez was able to get in a basket for a quick balloon hop, she says the experience was amazing. "It is cool to see how they put him up and take him down and talk to the pilot and you get to go on for a little bit, It was fun. It was amazing. It just feels like you're kind of floating to a different experience," she said.

One of the pilots at Sunday's event Steve Watson says it was fun for him to share his balloon with the kids of every age.

"Everyone smiles, everyone's having a good time. So I just love doing that. So, a little hot air makes everyone a little happy I guess," Watson said.

Watson has been a balloon pilot for 30 years. He says he got into it while he was serving in the Air Force as a way to try and test equipment.

"I had this idea to use hot air balloons to test sensors, do some atmospheric testing. And we did some other things, too, testing recovery systems for space capsules, things of that nature," said Watson.

He says that he has had so much fun interacting with the people that he is looking forward to come back next year.

"Everyone's taken great care of us and everyone's been very receptive to ballooning. So I'd love to come up again and give people more rides, more fun," Watson said.