Yes, they are around. They are commonly referred to as 'Cloudhoppers'. Many are homebuilt, but a few  have been made by the balloon manufacturers.

They are lots of fun, but are not a good choice for someone just beginning. It takes quite a bit of experience to learn to control a balloon, and the lack of a protective enclosure (ie, a basket) and the inability to fly with an instructor make a cloudhopper a bad choice as a first balloon.  They are exciting and quite enjoyable for an experienced pilot, though.