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At different altitudes winds tend to (but not always) blow in different directions. Sometimes only slightly different directions, sometimes radically different directions. As I understand it, Albuquerque is famous for it's wind "box." IIRC the prevailing winds around and above Albuquerque blow in generally all four directions. So by varying your altitude you can basically go almost anywhere you want in that area.

The trick for the hounds is to try to mimic the hare's path in three dimensions, and reasonably quickly before the rising sun, storm fronts, high/low pressure systems, etc. change the pattern. Balloon rallies are great fun (but dang do those folks get up early!), I've crewed/chased a few times for a couple of different balloons. Read that as I'm good at being dead weight on the end of a rope. Though I've been "fan man" and "top rope" guy too. I'm not even a virgin anymore, been up - only once for about 20 min, but it was great fun.