We're floating over the Coconino National Forest, the red rocks of Sedona burning a deep orange in the morning sun. The only sound is the occasional hiss of the fuel and the resulting whoosh of the flame in our hot air balloon, flown by our expert pilot-officially called an aeronaut-Blair Preston of Northern Light Balloon Expeditions. "The key is in the timing," he says, as each addition of power anticipates a delay. He's perfectly contouring us above the Earth, and we fly mere feet above the treetops. Instead of feeling fragile, we feel solid; instead of feeling moved by the wind's will, Preston is in control. For a first-ever hot air balloon flight, this is going to be hard to beat. Our hot air balloon journey started early in the morning. While you can control balloons, calm weather is a necessity, which means flying only at sunup in the high desert. Pickup is 4 a.m. We arrived in Sedona the day before, staying at the Sky Ranch Lodge that is just a four-minute walk (we timed it) from Mesa Grill, the airport restaurant, and a few more minutes from the FBO.
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