Spending time with distant family. Getting a good hike in.
Why did you become a pilot?
I have an adventurous spirit and became exposed to ballooning while in high school and working for a local pizza company that had a hot air balloon as an advertising promotion. Some may remember Garcia's Pizza in a Pan home of the Flying Tomato Brothers.
What do you find is the most challenging about flying a hot air balloon?
Curbing my disappointment when we're not able to fly after having committed to it.
Short description of something interesting that ballooning has allowed you to do?
To sit atop of a plateau only accessible by balloon. To skim across the water off a 150-200 ft waterfall. To drop into a 750 gorge and drift along the river at the bottom.
What do you most want the public to know/understand about hot air balloons and flying them?
Balloons are FAA certified and regulated aircraft flown by trained and certified pilots. The way to think of it is just like all surgeons are doctors but not all doctors are surgeons, all balloonists are pilots but not all pilots are balloonists.
