The Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Air Bear balloon, flown by Conrad Burgess and sponsored by Bank of the West sails over the Yampa Valley after taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

Photo by Brian Ray /
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A group of hot air balloons inflate before taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

Photo by Brian Ray /
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Bank of the West branch manager Hal Franke, top left, jettisons a fistful of $1 bills towards a crowd of children and spectators below after taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

Photo by Brian Ray /
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Hot air balloon pilot Dave Yob performs a radio check before taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

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The Will O' The Wind balloon, piloted by Joe Lillard and sponsored by the Steamboat Grand Resort, skims across the surface of the lake shortly after taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

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Grace Grill, top, gets a bird’s-eye view of the inflating hot air ballons from her father Mike’s shoulders at Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

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A group of hot air balloons float over the Yampa Valley after taking off from Bald Eagle Lake near Steamboat Springs on Saturday morning during the 27th annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo.

Photo by Brian Ray /
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Paul Pent answers questions about the bonsai trees he is selling in his booth at the annual Art in the Park Festival in Steamboat Springs on Saturday afternoon.

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Rich Willard, left, handles a thirteen-year-old golden eagle at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program's booth at the annual Art in the Park Festival in Steamboat Springs on Saturday afternoon.

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Wayne Amsbary hula hoops through the Art in the Park Festival in Steamboat Springs on Saturday afternoon. Amsbary was leading a group of hula hoopers who were “hooping for whirled peace.” For more photos, see page 11.

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Gabrielle Savage, standing, gives a traditional ashiatsu massage to a client in her tent at the Art in the Park Festival in Steamboat Springs on Saturday afternoon. Savage and her business partner Michelle Purvis were on hand at the festival representing their respective companies, Apres and Balanced Bodyworks.

Photo by Brian Ray /
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