ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. —

A Vermont sightseeing company offers leaf-peepers a memorable way to admire the fall foliage of the Champlain Valley. Jeff Snyder of Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides has been offering sightseeing adventures over Vermont for more than 20 years.

"People want to know when peak is," Snyder said. "It's right now here. That's a real-time update from someone who is literally 50 feet above it to 2,000 feet above it with these eyeballs."

Foliage season is by far the pilot's busiest stretch, he added.

Sister station WPTZ joined an approximately hour-long balloon flight the morning of Oct. 5. The trip met at the Essex Resort & Spa , then drove to Colchester for takeoff. The balloon ended up landing in Westford.

"Regardless of whatever pictures people take with their ca

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