News

Slideshow: Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival

KAWC

Published November 21, 2015 at 12:28 PM MST

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Balloonist Katelyn Salazar prepares for flight at the 2015 Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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Ground crew members Martina Parmley and Eileen Lang (right) roll out the nylon balloon envelope.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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Katelyn Salazar fires propane burners to inflate her balloon, Sky Magic.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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Katelyn Salazar uses a radio to communicate with her ground crew and visually checks our position with other balloons.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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The flight instruments track ascension speed, altitude and the temperature inside the balloon envelope.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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View from the balloon at about 2000 feet above sea level.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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The wicker basket leaves a path in the sand during landing.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

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Katelyn Salazar (far left), Martina Parmley and Eileen Lang repack the balloon post-landing.

Amanda Solliday - KAWC

For the 25^th year, the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival brings together dozens of balloonists in Yuma Nov. 20-22, 2015.

For KAWC, reporter Amanda Solliday flew with pilot Katelyn Salazar in her balloon, Sky Magic, during the first launch of the festival.