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International Balloon Fiesta 2000
After several days of a freak monsoon, the weather cleared to beautiful skies and cooperative winds. I took this shot in-flight during the mass-ascension, Saturday 14 October.
On the field during a morning mass-ascension. Balloons are launched in waves, starting at one end of the field and working toward the other, repeated until all are in the air.
The field gets crowded, as balloons are inflated.
First, a balloon is "cold-inflated" with a gas-powered fan. Then, the burners are lit, and the air inside the envelope is heated quickly with blasts of fire.
A lone balloon sails past the Sandia mountain range, Albuquerque's most distinguishing geographical feature.