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Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 08:46 AM
Hot air balloon in a slot canyon
The Salt Lake Tribune

Dee Thorell, of Layton, sent in this picture taken by friend Val Gleave, of Marysvale. The hot air balloon, piloted by Kent Barnes, of Murray, was flying in a slot canyon near Page, Ariz.


Hot air balloon in a slot canyon near Page, Ariz.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2009/0226/20090226__out_outtakes_0301~P1.jpg
rockgremlin
03-04-2009, 08:49 AM
Would come in handy on first descents... :haha:
Scott Card
03-04-2009, 08:50 AM
Wow, that is wild. Probably the best way to scout out a canyon. :haha: Pricey and dangerous but probably the best view into the canyon for sure. :2thumbs:
DiscGo
03-04-2009, 09:11 AM
That guy is awesome! He'd have to be quite the pilot to flying so low like that.
Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 09:23 AM
I see that picture and the only word running through my head is .... dumbass.....
Win
03-04-2009, 09:31 AM
Looks neat except that you can't steer a hot air balloon. Ice nailed it - dumbass.

Win
ratagonia
03-04-2009, 09:31 AM
I see that picture and the only word running through my head is .... dumbass.....

uh, well, if he made it out, then he's not a dumbass, now is he?

Good pilot, still air - it's certainly possible for this to be reasonable (unless he screws up, then everyone is on his case).

Nice thing about a hot air balloon - you pull the lever and the thing goes up!

Tom (EX-paraglider pilot, you pull the lever and... and... AND...)
Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 09:35 AM
Tom (EX-paraglider pilot, you pull the lever and... and... AND...)

Yeah Tom.... why don't you explain to everyone how that paraglider thing worked out for ya.... :lol8:

All you have to do is pull the riser and the thing turns....

:five:
Cirrus2000
03-04-2009, 10:34 AM
I see that picture and the only word running through my head is .... dumbass.....

uh, well, if he made it out, then he's not a dumbass, now is he?
Sure he is! Just a lucky dumbass. People who do stupid things and get away with it are, nonetheless, still doing stupid things...

Marginally off topic: still need to do a hot air balloon ride, someday.
Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 10:36 AM
God looks after fools, drunks, and little children.....
DiscGo
03-04-2009, 10:56 AM
You guys can say what you want about this guy, but here he is in an awesome picture doing something that few people on Earth have never done. I think he is awesome!
Rob L
03-04-2009, 11:36 AM
It's unreasonable to call the guy a dumbass unless you are also a balloon pilot and can compare like with like. Lightly loaded, these things can ascend at 3000 feet per minute (and descend even faster).

It would have been calm (wind <5 kts) or else it would not have been possible to make the descent.

I think given the location, equipment, skills & opportunity I would do the same (after all, some people go canyoneering...with little more than a rope! How mad is that? :2thumbs: )

And you'd be surprised how much you CAN steer a balloon.
asdf
03-04-2009, 12:30 PM
It's unreasonable to call the guy a dumbass unless you are also a balloon pilot and can compare like with like.

Rob, most of these guys seek out hypothermic death traps only to discover the best possible methods of escape ... all while sliding down ropes in tights :haha:
Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 02:01 PM
It's unreasonable to call the guy a dumbass unless you are also a balloon pilot and can compare like with like.

:roflol:

I don't have to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge to know that anyone who does is a dumbass......



http://www.retran.com/images/golden-gate-suicide.819x614.jpg
DiscGo
03-04-2009, 02:14 PM
I don't have to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge to know that anyone who does is a dumbass......









:roflol:
Scott Card
03-04-2009, 02:41 PM
:roflol: :roflol: Oh man, Shane, where did you get that photo. That IS funny (in a sick, tragic, sad, but funny sort of way)
Iceaxe
03-04-2009, 03:07 PM
World's Worst Suicide Hotline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cohE73lS2iU
DiscGo
03-04-2009, 03:22 PM
That video was classic! Those silly emos :)
Reedus
03-04-2009, 05:40 PM
Always thought it would be cool as hell to fly a powered parachute over slots to scope things out. You can steer those andtake off and land on 100 feet of ground.
R
03-05-2009, 07:41 AM
Marginally off topic: still need to do a hot air balloon ride, someday.

FWIW, in 1991 I took a ride in a hot air balloon that was sponsored by my paper, and I found it kind of boring and more trouble than it was worth.
Win
03-05-2009, 08:35 AM
Rob, are you a balloon pilot? I trained in one years ago and do not want to be ascending at 3000 ft/minute! Ever watch balloon launches: people holding onto the basket, pilot lighting the burner, balloon overheated, people let go. Up, up and away!!! I think there was very bad accident years ago, on the launch.

The balloon in the picture just can't react fast enough to changing air currents.

Win
Rob L
03-05-2009, 02:51 PM
Rob, are you a balloon pilot? ....I think there was very bad accident years ago, on the launch....Win

No, I'm not, Win, but spent a year or two crewing. Launches would not be at that rate, of course.

I think the pilot of the balloon in the photo was doing OK...after all, there must have been someone to take the photo? Ever done formation flying? :nod:

Rob