misbehavin’ in spring creek

Nevada is known for its mountainous terrain and rugged beauty, and this summer I had the pleasure of looking at it from a fresh perspective: 500 feet up. My first hot-air balloon ride was a lesson in the calculated teamwork it takes to inflate, fly, and deflate. It was also a reminder that some of the best things in life (think fishing) require waking up early—really early. That's when you can expect calm wind, a necessity for a steady balloon ride.

On August 11, pilot Gayle McCoy, captain of the Misbehavin' balloon team in Spring Creek, was courteous enough to take Nevada Magazine art director Matt Smith and me on a peaceful ride over northeastern Nevada. We met the crew at 6 a.m. in the parking lot of the Spring Creek Sports Complex.

For the record, it was not Smith's first time in a hot-air balloon, but he was also fascinated by the balloon team's meticulous ways. "It was interesting seeing and hearing how choreographed the process of setting up, wind-direction monitoring, weather checking, landing, chase crew communication, and dismantling were," says Smith, who snapped all the photos you see here.

The amazing thing to me is how safe and secure you feel while in the air, even though the reality of the situation is that tragedy could be one major malfunction away. Below is a step-by-step look at the process by which McCoy and the Misbehavin' crew got us up in the air—and down.

1. The main photo is that of Gayle and his son, D.J., testing the propane burner that will be the source of the hot air that keeps the balloon afloat. Most hot-air balloons use a wicker basket for the passenger compartment. Wicker works well because it is sturdy, flexible, and relatively lightweight, making for a softer landing.