By Matthew Nash
Olympic Peninsula News Group
SEQUIM — Sequim’s nonprofit hot air balloon, Dream Catcher, will return this weekend to Lubao International Balloon and Music Festival in the Philippines.
Capt. Crystal Stout will pilot the only balloon from the U.S. and fly as the only female pilot at the festival featuring 36 pilots from 18 countries and running from Friday through Sunday.
Stout said she was one of three women pilots last year and that in the Philippines people travel from as far away as three hours to experience the hot air balloons.
“I want to give more people the chance to fly that never would have it,” she said.
“In the U.S. we have more of an opportunity to do something like this but in the Philippines, it’s something that’s never even been heard of.”
In the states and worldwide, Dream Catcher Balloon offers those with limited mobility, including veterans and seniors, tethered rides.
During the festival, which is in the province of Pampanga, Stout will offer the same tethered rides in the morning for senior citizens and World War II veterans.
Stout will be joined by Jeff Perry, director of Chrysalis, Dream Catcher’s parent company, as crewman for the journey.
She said her challenges this year including flying even more people over four days instead of three and she plans to fly the balloon on one of the mornings over rice fields.
Sequim retailers, including Purple Haze Lavender, Olympic Lavender Company, and Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures have donated items to the event.
Mervin Manufacturing also donated a wake board for the Pradera Verde Wake Park, the resort that sponsors the festival.
“When we put the lid on our shipping container it smelled like lavender from all the local gifts. I’m so excited to give them a taste of Sequim.” Stout said.
“It will be fun to open it up after it travels the 6,800 miles and see if you can still smell the lavender.”
Other sponsors include That Takes the Cake, Sequim Broker Nell Clausen from RE/Max Prime, Pioneer Propane, PC Users Group, Doc Reiss with Port Angeles Town and Country, and KSQM 91.5 FM.
Stout said the radio station sponsored costs for shipping the balloon 13,600 miles roundtrip to and from the event, too.
Locals can watch Stout broadcast live daily from the event Friday through Monday each morning and at night around 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. at www.facebook.com/DreamCatcherBalloon.
Building a better balloon
Stout said it took a lot of locals to build the Dream Catcher, a one-of-a-kind aircraft.
Sequim-based Allform Welding’s Dan Donavan donated the time and materials to build the landing gear that allows the balloon’s seat to be at wheelchair height.
Local engineer Jim Nurse and Carlsborg-based Copper Creek Fabrications owner Troy Tosland worked with directors from Chrysalis to create a rocker arm to help the balloon stand up during inflation.
Stout said Carlsborg’s Ian McAndie of Welding Fabrication was instrumental in re-crafting the rocker arm and Dave Volkers of Port Angeles assisted with welding new seat latches to enable the five-point harness to lock securely for a safe, seated ride to 25 feet.
She also recognizes Case St. Denis who helped purchase the original aircraft seat and special-shaped butterfly envelope.
The “Dream Team” travels in a donated shuttle bus with exterior graphics discounted from Ruddell Automotive.
As a whole, the nonprofit balloon program operates out of Sequim Valley Airport by volunteer crew and directors.
“We have been blessed with so many local companies who share our dream to give rides to our veterans, seniors and the adaptive (disabilities) communities,” Stout said. “It really does take a village to pay it forward with dreams of hope and changing the world.”
Following the trip to the Philippines, Stout and her team continue to seek funds for its Bucket List Balloon Rides for Veterans Tour in honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019. Stout said each $20 contribution will provide a ride for a veteran.
She’s also in discussion with promoters about returning to the Philippines to commemorate the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur landing at Red Beach, Leyte, during World War II.
For more information on the Dream Catcher Balloon, contact Captain-Crystal Stout at 360-601-2433 or visit www.DreamCatcherBalloon.org.
