CORLETTE resident Ruth Wilson knows first hand the chilling experience of piloting a balloon in winter over the Austrian Alps.
The accomplished pilot was the only Australian at an international ballooning meet held in the alps earlier this month.
Three flights were achieved above the alps passing over mountains at more than 3000 metres high.
Her balloon joined 39 other competitors from various countries taking on the Dachstein Alps, 60 kilometres south east of Salzburg. Temperatures ranged from minus four to five degrees with blue skies and the snow covered towns of Annaberg, Abtenau and Gosau below her flight path.
"The first three days we were snowed in so no flights," Ms Wilson told the Examiner.
"Then we had three days of perfect flying weather - an amazing experience.
"It was hard work packing up in the snow but what an adventure."
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