Mammoth Balloon Adventures: About your Flight

Upon arrival, everyone is encouraged to help unload the wicker basket and the 1,000 square yards of nylon, rainbow-colored balloon envelope.

With the sun slowly creeping over craggy peaks in the distance, the balloon is gradually inflated with air using a huge inflation fan. Two crew members prop up the balloon's 7-foot opening while you join the rest of the passengers in slowly unfolding the voluminous mounds of envelope.

When the balloon reaches its 140,000-cubic-foot capacity, Metcalf turns on the two propane burners, aiming their huge bluish flames toward the center of the balloon.

''Together, these burners blast out 24 million BTU '' he yells above the roar. - "That's enough to heat two five-bedroom homes in few a minutes.''

Slowly, the balloon rises from its prone position.

Once aloft, Metcalf regulates the altitude of the balloon by operating the burners. (The more hot air, the higher you go.) There is no way to steer, balloonists are constantly monitoring wind currents and must have a highly developed sense of wind direction and speed.

After a gentle landing, everyone takes part in ''burping'' the balloon. As Metcalf wrestles the huge folds of nylon into one neat bundle, the air is forced out by people piling onto the combined mass.

During the winter months, snowmobiles are then used to ferry the basket and deflated balloon across the meadow to the waiting transport vehicle.

It is a true mountain flight experience - unlike any other ride.