After meeting your guide, head to the launch point, where you will see the 9-story-tall hot air balloon for the first time. Climb inside a woven basket as the enormous fabric above you swells with air. Listen to the dramatic sounds of the burner as the inflation process continues, gradually lifting you off the ground and taking you to the heavens above. Feel the thrill of drifting 5,000 feet (1,524 m) over the mountains as you raise your glass of champagne in a celebratory toast while ascending high over Colorado Springs. Your knowledgeable and FAA-certified pilot will identify some of the mountains in view as the sun rises higher in the sky, painting the world before you with rich golden hues. Keep an eye out for native birds flying nearby, such as downy woodpeckers, northern flickers, and white-breasted nuthatches.  You'll have the chance to take breathtaking aerial shots of the Rocky Mountains throughout your flight, so be sure to take a few snaps from the air.