South Lake Tahoe is located on the California–Nevada border, El Dorado County, California, USA.
One of the things Lake Tahoe is famous for is hot air ballooning. The flights usually start a while after sunrise, as long as the earth is still cool and the wind is calm. Since hot air ballooning requires good visibility and low wind speed, it is very weather permitting.
In Lake Tahoe’s flights, due to the fact that logistics differ from any other location, there is only one balloon launching, containing 12 people. The flights start at an elevation of 6200 ft/1890 m above the sea level. When the conditions are right, elevations are able to reach up to 10000 ft/3048 m above the sea level.
If you are afraid of heights, don’t worry, you won’t feel any vertigo because the balloon is moving with the wind currents. This means that there is no swaying, feeling of the movement, or rocking. Direction of the balloon cannot be controlled by steering.
They travel only with the wind at its own speed. A pilot can maneuver the balloon in several directions, because of the different wind directions at different altitudes. The pilot’s responsibility around Lake Tahoe is to bring the balloon close to surface, where the “Tahoe Flyer” can be positioned under the balloon, offering a landing surface.
Balloon flying is absolutely safe and it fulfills all the safety requirements. It also has FAA certifications. You should be dressed in layers but also comfortable, because it is very cold in the early morning.
