No Balloon Fiesta this year (ABQ NM, also Philmont Scout Ranch closed)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | June 22, 2020 | Rick Nathanson

[CedarDave]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has officially claimed another victim.

The 49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has been postponed until October 2-10, 2021, which means the 50th event fiesta will now be pushed back until 2022.

The decision was made Monday by the all-volunteer Balloon Fiesta board of directors.

Matt Guthrie, president of the board, said in a statement, “The safety of our pilots, guests, sponsors, staff and volunteers has always been our top concern and in the wake of COVID-19 and its continued impacts, we must stay dedicated to upholding that commitment.”

People who already made reservations and paid for tickets or RV spaces will be able to use those next year.

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest balloon fiesta in the world. In 2019 it drew 588 balloons from across the nation and 17 foreign countries, attracted more than 866,000 visitors during it’s nine-day run ...

[CedarDave]

In other news, this year's visits by Boy Scouts to the Philmont Scout Ranch at Cimarron have been canceled:

Owned by the Boy Scouts of America, Philmont is the largest camp of its kind and carries the most prestige. In 2019, more than 21,000 people across the nation came to rural northern New Mexico to backpack on the 300 miles of trails scattered across the Colfax County landscape.

From its beginnings, though, the COVID-19 pandemic had threatened the camp’s summer operations, the big money-making period for Philmont.

Philmont administrators developed a detailed 34-page plan outlining how camp operations would adjust during the pandemic to ensure the safety of campers and staff. Campfires were canceled, the mess hall would be closed and troops would be kept more separate along the trail.

It would look starkly different from a typical summer at the camp, but administrators agreed and tentatively planned on opening programs July 1.

However, the NM Department of Health did not agree and rejected the camp’s plan – there was just too much risk letting thousands of people across the country congregate in one place. On June 4, the camp announced all 2020 summer programs would be canceled.

Philmont closure latest struggle for Boy Scouts

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And the hoax goes on... and on... and on...

[CedarDave]

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[Tijeras_Slim]

I’d wager the Philmont will end up on the block given how the vultures are circling the BSA.

As for the balloon fiesta, let the loss of revenue add to Mayor Timmy’s woes.

[CharlesWayneCT]

In my time at Philmont, I don’t remember really interacting with other groups during our time there. Occasionally, activities were combined, but I presume they could keep them separate.

I don’t remember a mess hall, but I guess there was one, I just remember our daily cooking of our food we packed with us on the trail.

But i don’t care anymore what the scouts do, it does seem a shame that instead of getting out in the wilderness where there is no chance of getting the virus, these inner city kids will now be stuck in crowded streets and basketball courts, much more likely to spread disease.

[lee martell]

Too bad. If that event in NM has been cancelled ‘due to the virus’ it may also be happening elsewhere in the country.
Each summer, last weekend of July, there is usually a Kite Festival at the Berkeley Marina in Coco County.
It’s nice seeing all the giant, colorful kites.
People from the East Bay gather and bring their own kites.
Creative aviation and all. But we don’t know if it will happen this year ‘due to the virus’.

[Joe Boucher]

2 crazy wild things to do in America:
The baloon lift here and bridge day in Beckley W.Va
Both very well worth going to

[jeffersondem]

“I’d wager the Philmont will end up on the block given how the vultures are circling the BSA.”

Hopefully the property will continue to be available for public use under someones stewardship.

The current scout organization needs to relinquish stewardship of the property. They have abandoned their mission; forfeited their leadership role.

Paid and elected leadership at the top of the organization are no longer brave, clean and reverent. Disband the whole thing and leave former scouts with memories of when the organization stood for wholesomeness.

[Magnum44]

I had the good fortune of going to Philmont twice, the first time in 1976 as a scout, and the second in 2013 as an adult leader with my daughters venture crew. Both times were amazing and memorable. Its a shame, social distancing should not even be an issue in a wilderness so vast.

[LegendHasIt]

And the economic destruction continues, even though more and more people are getting a clue that this is mostly hoax.

And the poor Homo Scout leaders are going to have to search for ‘fresh meat’ elsewhere, I guess.

[CedarDave]

There is a brief discussion of the bankruptcy issues at the scout link.

[matt04]

I have to wonder how many of these events that got cancelled for a year will return or for how long. Many of these orgs rely of them for almost all their funding. I don’t see how they can go a year with no income and continuing expenses.

Let’s say they got a loan, what happens if next year or in 2 years they have bad year and can’t make payments, than what?

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’m not worried about the Balloon Fiesta coming back. It is sort of the Superbowl of balloon events.

End of Trail, the world championship of Cowboy Action shooting, would have been going on right now but for this mess. It’s held just east of Albuquerque.

[zek157]

Boy Scouts had to get a mortgage against Philmont last year to help pay for their pedastry, which went against the covenants of the gift.

Will be a loss when it goes to auction, but the scout leadership isn't’t worth a bucket of spit on a wet day.

[TigersEye]

The decision was made Monday by the all-volunteer Balloon Fiesta board of Karens.

[TigersEye]

As I read both of your recountings of your experiences at the Philmont BSA camp I couldn't help but wonder how many 65+ people w/co-morbidities you encountered there?

And then I wondered how hard it would have been for them to ask any such vulnerable camp leaders, counselors etc. to skip a year and find substitutes this summer?

We have to start rejecting this Nanny State on steroids even if it requires some extra work and a little courage.

[hattend]

Well, next up, Reno Air Races

They are going to make their decision in July but things are looking bleak.

What a crock of shi’ite.

[CharlesWayneCT]

It was too long ago for me to remember much, except my well-intentioned scout master being highly racist while trying to keep us from being what he thought was racist.

Which I realize now I can’t recount the story because the words might get flagged. :) It had to do though with the show “Fat Albert”.

[Veggie Todd]

Good. Hot air balloons are racist. /s

[TigersEye]

LOL

I recall a few such people myself. In my experience they were truly a minority.

I can’t think of much better for a kid than some time spent in the Rocky Mountains though.