Why is this picture so important to me?
- Thread starter Jack Arnott
- Start date
Re: Why is this picture so important to me?
Because you got your camera back after the balloon came down?
Because you got your camera back after the balloon came down?
Re: Why is this picture so important to me?
Exactly! For those who do (or don't) remember. When we last spotted the balloon, it was headed south in Arches National Park, on March 22, 2010.
My brother David was with me, and we first estimated a 10% chance of recovery. The next day overlooking the Cedar Mesa area we downgraded it to less than 1%.
Then, later that year my brother died.
So when a rancher from Paradox Valley CO called a couple of months ago, it was a very emotional day.
His wife found it while they were out looking for some lost cattle, on a Pinion Mesa, about 30 miles (50Km) ESE from there.
My wife and I were in Moab on Labor Day, and drove to Paradox to pick it up. (Absolutely gorgeous drive, both to there, and then to Grand Junction from there.)
This is one of the last shots on the card. It did not even make it out of the park before the card filled up. For one thing, this was my worst and oldest camera, and it would not hold more than a 2 Gig card, and it already had several hundred photos on it.
This is the South end of Arches National Park, Park Ave area, with the Colorado River in the upper left, Moab upper center.
With some help from google maps, I calculated that the distance across the bottom of the picture is about four miles, so breaking down the angle of the lens, about 50 degrees, I am thinking the balloon was at about 20,000 feet right here. (6000 Meters)
This is about 40 minutes after the balloon came untethered.
Exactly! For those who do (or don't) remember. When we last spotted the balloon, it was headed south in Arches National Park, on March 22, 2010.
My brother David was with me, and we first estimated a 10% chance of recovery. The next day overlooking the Cedar Mesa area we downgraded it to less than 1%.
Then, later that year my brother died.
So when a rancher from Paradox Valley CO called a couple of months ago, it was a very emotional day.
His wife found it while they were out looking for some lost cattle, on a Pinion Mesa, about 30 miles (50Km) ESE from there.
My wife and I were in Moab on Labor Day, and drove to Paradox to pick it up. (Absolutely gorgeous drive, both to there, and then to Grand Junction from there.)
This is one of the last shots on the card. It did not even make it out of the park before the card filled up. For one thing, this was my worst and oldest camera, and it would not hold more than a 2 Gig card, and it already had several hundred photos on it.
This is the South end of Arches National Park, Park Ave area, with the Colorado River in the upper left, Moab upper center.
With some help from google maps, I calculated that the distance across the bottom of the picture is about four miles, so breaking down the angle of the lens, about 50 degrees, I am thinking the balloon was at about 20,000 feet right here. (6000 Meters)
This is about 40 minutes after the balloon came untethered.
Re: Why is this picture so important to me?
Wow, Jack. What an incredible shot, and what an incredible story. So glad you got your camera back!
Wow, Jack. What an incredible shot, and what an incredible story. So glad you got your camera back!
Re: Why is this picture so important to me?
I don't really remember you posting about one that got away, but I do remember your tethered balloon pics.
I don't really remember you posting about one that got away, but I do remember your tethered balloon pics.
Re: Why is this picture so important to me?
Balloon Retreval. Will I get it back?
Here is the original post, before this cool place was available to discuss things.
Balloon Retreval. Will I get it back?
Here is the original post, before this cool place was available to discuss things.