The name "Black Hills" comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa, which mean "hills that are black." Seen from a distance, these pine-covered hills, rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie, appear black. The Forest encompasses rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, deep blue lakes, and unique caves.įor many people, from early Native Americans to today's visitors, the Black Hills has been a special place to come for physical and spiritual renewal. No trip to SD is complete without a balloon ride over the Black Hills with these guys.The Black Hills National Forest is in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, covering an area 125 miles long and 65 miles wide. Ironically, not only are you going to need head protection from the cold, but you're also going to need it from the heat because when that flame turns on, your head is going to feel it! There's no traffic at that time but there's a lot of hills to traverse.Ģ. Plan about an hour to drive out to Custer from Rapid City.
And after landing in a beautiful field, we were treated to mimosas and snacks before taking a leisurely ride back to Custer. Even though the ride was about an hour long, it felt like forever drifting over farms, pastures, forests, and of course, the hills. And though 5am seems a little early, it's essential to the experience of seeing the sun rise over the Black Hills of SD. I can honestly tell you that this was the most serene and amazing ride up in the air we have ever experienced. We were actually scheduled to fly on Sunday, but Keely thought it would be too windy and called and rescheduled us for Saturday and I am so glad he did. He is very personable and an excellent host. It was a crisp Saturday morning in May 2021 at 5am and a perfect day for a balloon ride over the Black Hills. It was the best day and experience of a lifetime! I will 100% do this again with these folks. It was the best most quiet experience I have ever had in the sky, and I am so glad I got to see them set it all up and the care they took to be safe. I hopped in after my new bride and we took to the skies with the rest of our group. Damian and his other copilots as well as his ground team are the best of the best, putting my mind at ease watching the process. At this point I was so excited to see that they treat these things safer than any airplane I have been in. Once the balloon took shape off the ground, the team all looked inside to be sure that each of them were satisfied with how things looked. His team faced the fans in such a way where heat would never contact the material of the skirt or cables. Now the balloon is taking its shape on the ground and Damian is the only one to operate the burner.
I saw Damian personally walk into the balloon 3 times during the air up process checking for rigging inside the balloon and other of the safety checks. Now the fans.they use the fans to pre-air up the balloon.
#BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST HOTELS FREE#
The burner was in a box free of contaminates in an enclosed trailer with the balloon cart and appeared in new condition and was placed on the basket with the gold grade 8 hardware we use on our airplanes. It spread out nicely into a beautiful windrow of fabric free of twists and stress.Īs I watched them connect the basket, the cables were shiny new and not crimped in any way, also placed with care so they would not cross each other causing them to be twisted among each other. As they unrolled the balloon, I noticed it was put away with care because it virtually was free of twists or balled up in a lack for words. During the set up I noticed the balloons were in a cart that completely protected the balloon while not in use. I was nervous and excited to see it all happen in real time.
The teams were split up and we were assigned into a basket with Damian.
As soon as Damian gave the all-clear sign, we were off. The morning we showed up, the team was ready and waiting for the weather check to be clear. I was skeptical of air balloons because I felt beforehand there were a lot of variables to consider. I am a welder for a company that makes / builds Super Cubs in Minnesota. I wanted to write a review of our experience because I have some insight of air travel.
0 kommentar(er)
