It’s atypical, but some try to fly when the winds pick up, or they pick up after they are airborne. That and the lessening of available landing sites due to rapid urbanization is making the ABQ event more dangerous. Those of us who have been around a while remember when open space was all over the area.
The most spectacular non-fatal crash was into the high (70 story, 670 ft.) 50,000-watt KKOB radio tower in 2004. The balloon had two children (14 and 10 years) who climbed from the balloon to the tower without lifelines and then started down the ladder, again without lifelines. They were met by a utility company journeyman lineman who volunteered to go up and safely escort them down. He met them after climbing 30 stories on the exposed ladder. Talk about brave ...
http://www.abqjournal.com/balloon/239084metro10-11-04.htm
I see you’re from NM. I have been to Albuquerque several times. Is it my imagination or is it the ugliest city in the U.S.? We were there this past spring, and I wish I had taken pictures it was so ugly. It’s hard to describe to people just what it’s like! I’ve been there several times, in different parts of the city and have found it to be the same everywhere. If you’ll point me in the direction of a pretty part of town, I’ll gladly check it out the next time we go through there!
My wife and I attended the ABQ Hot Air Balloon festival back in 1987, or maybe it was 1988; anyway, we went aloft in a balloon sponsored by a vendor of a company I worked with at that time. Remarkable experience, sort of like being in a giant gum ball machine with all the colorful balloons launching at the same time. Nearly twenty years ago there was still a fair amount of open area available to land the balloons ... haven't visited ABQ in recent years so can't make the comparison.