Dawn Patrol...

At O:dark thirty a few balloons go up to test the winds. They check the strength and direction to determine if there will be a mass ascension or not.

If the "Albuquerque Box" is in effect almost everyone will go up.  The box is a wind condition peculiar to Albuquerque where the winds literally make a box so they rise from the landing field, float down the valley, then rise or drop and float back toward the landing field. 

Even if they decide not to have a mass ascension, the pilots can decide to 

go up anyway.  Many do.

We missed out on the mass ascension the first day, so the Chaser's Club gave us each a rain check for another morning's session.  We were still able to have breakfast and watch some of the balloons launch.