Hot air balloons launched Friday morning in the Animas Valley in preperation for the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension, which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.
Rick Schmidt of Mancos pilots the hot air balloon Snaggletooth on Friday morning in the Animas Valley. Schmidt has been piloting hot air balloons for more than 20 years and worked as ground crew before then. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Skyler Schmidt of Cortez helps prepare the hot air balloon with the moniker Snaggletooth ready to fly on Friday morning in the Animas Valley. Schmidt is often part of the crew for his father, Rick Schmidt, who pilots Snaggletooth. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
The ground crew prepares a hot air balloon for flight on Friday morning off U.S. Highway 550, on the north side of Hermosa Meadows Road, in the Animas Valley. Schmidt is often part of the crew for his father, Rick Schmidt, who pilots Snaggletooth. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
MacKenna Dunlap, left, and Aspen Poole, both of Albuquerque, work as part of the ground crew for the hot air balloon Snaggletooth on Friday morning in the Animas Valley. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Rick Schmidt of Mancos prepares his hot air balloon to fly Friday morning in the Animas Valley. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Skyler Schmidt of Cortez, in silhouette, prepares a hot air balloon for flight Friday morning in the Animas Valley north of Durango. Schmidt is often part of the crew for his father, Rick Schmidt, who pilots the balloon, dubbed Snaggletooth. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension, which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Michaela Gonzales of Albuquerque works as part of the ground crew for the hot air balloon Snaggletooth on Friday morning in the Animas Valley north of Durango. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension, which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Rick Schmidt of Mancos fills his hot air balloon, Snaggletooth, with warm air in preparation for liftoff Friday morning in the Animas Valley north of Durango. Schmidt has been piloting hot air balloons for more than 20 years and worked as ground crew member prior to becoming a pilot. The event, hosted for media, is a preview of the Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension, which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
The ground crew prepares a hot air balloon for flight Friday in the Animas Valley north of Durango. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
A hot air balloon takes to the sky Friday morning in the Animas Valley north of Durango. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
The hot air balloon dubbed Snaggletooth took flight Friday in the Animas Valley. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Hot air balloons prepare to take to take flight Friday morning in the Animas Valley north of Durango. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Hot air balloons take to the sky Friday morning in the Animas Valley. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Hot air balloons take to the sky Friday morning in the Animas Valley. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
A hot air balloon lands Friday in Dalton Ranch subdivision. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
A hot air balloon lands Friday at Dalton Ranch subdivision north of Durango. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Hot air balloons take to the sky Friday in the Animas Valley. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
A hot air balloon takes to the sky Friday in the Animas Valley. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Rick Schmidt, in shadow, of Mancos, pilots the hot air balloon Snaggletooth on Friday morning in the Animas Valley. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Dalton Ranch is seen from a hot air balloon Friday morning. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension which will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Father and son team Rick, left, and Skyler Schmidt press the air out of their hot air balloon Snaggletooth after landing Friday morning in Dalton Ranch. The Snowdown Balloon Rally & Mass Ascension will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
