With the arrival of double digits, my husband and I were looking for a uniquely special gift for our son’s tenth birthday. Something that had become a routine part of our morning drive to school – watching the hot air balloon float gracefully over the Yampa Valley – sparked a thought. While we had always enjoyed seeing the hot air balloon from the valley floor, we had never actually taken flight ourselves.
Having lived in Steamboat Springs for nearly 20 years, I had seen most parts of the Yampa Valley; but not from the perspective offered by a hot air balloon. Sharing this experience as a family to celebrate our son’s tenth birthday seemed like the perfect uniquely special gift we were searching for; and it turned out to be more than perfect.
On a stunningly green and wonderfully serene June morning, we took flight with Wild West Balloon Adventures. But prior to taking flight, and to both of our sons’ excitement, we watched the hot air balloon inflate. With feet still grounded, we admired the balloon’s colorful beauty, highlighted by the sun’s early morning rays. Bud Whitehead, owner and head pilot, even let one of our kids release the weather balloon he uses to gauge wind direction, giving them a quick little science lesson before takeoff.
When it was time, we climbed into the balloon’s basket to prepare for liftoff. Our youngest son was a bit nervous about the flame that heats the air for the balloon to rise, but Stacia Whitehead, owner and marketing director, was very encouraging and helped to calm his nerves. Once we took flight, all fears were forgotten, and as a family, we began to take in the early morning serenity aboard a gentle craft.
As we gained elevation, we also gained expansive views of the Yampa Valley and beyond. Seeing the lengthy and winding path of the Yampa River from an aerial view was a special moment, as was our first wildlife viewing: not one but two moose along the riverbank. As we quietly and peacefully floated in the morning stillness, we observed other animals native to the area, including elk, deer, eagles, ospreys and foxes.
Continuing to rise in elevation as the winds were favorable, we captured a panoramic expanse in all directions, and were able to have a wonderful moment to take it all in. Seeing the landscape beyond Steamboat and the Yampa Valley that we see daily from the ground was stunning, giving us a unique window into what lies beyond our surrounding mountains. While an airplane might offer a similar yet momentary view, it doesn’t have the ability to slowly float through the air, and certainly doesn’t offer panoramic views. Being in that moment, taking it all in, brought a noticeable sense of presence and gratitude to our family, something that can’t be given in a material gift.
As we descended in elevation, we continued to enjoy the morning stillness from above as we neared the morning bustle down below. Bud began to look for spots to land, which can vary daily based on wind direction, and his landing crew was right there to help. We touched down gently, with only a small bump, in a sun-kissed field with a feeling of exhilaration paired with a gentle calmness. Experiencing a Steamboat morning from the sky was uniquely special, even for longtime locals, and was the perfect gift for our son’s inaugural double-digit birthday.
After landing, we rode in the van back to the launch site where we enjoyed a champagne toast (juice for the kids), along with scrumptious doughnut holes. Bud told us the history of Wild West Balloon Adventures – which has been operational since 1998 – and shared some fun and entertaining stories as well. Since 2018 Bud and Stacia have owned Wild West Balloon Adventures and have found a way to love life and work in Steamboat just the same.
“I love flying the balloon always, but I really love taking locals up there, especially the locals that have been around for a while and have seen us flying for a long time,” says Bud. “Those days are a treat for me. I am always trying to show people a good time, but I really want to be able to give the locals a special experience. Being up at the top of the quarry, or on the gondola, maybe the top of the ski area, you get the views, but there is a different perspective when you’re above it all in the middle of the valley.”
A different perspective undoubtedly, taking flight in a hot air balloon was the proverbial icing on the cake for our son’s tenth birthday. Capturing that uniquely special gift we were searching for – and then some – our hot air balloon adventure was an experience we’ll remember forever, and one we hope to experience again, perhaps in a different season.
Written by Erin Campbell
To hear more stories about hot air ballooning in the Yampa Valley, listen to our Common Folk in the Boat podcast featuring Bud Whitehead!