The Wallberg - an ideal mountain for hike and fly beginners, as the ascent is relatively easy. In contrast, this is not necessarily the best location for long XC flights, as the launch sites face north and north-west. Nevertheless, long XC flights have also been made from here if you know where to look for the thermals immediately after take-off. A classic is the flight to Kössen, which is also feasible for XC beginners with sufficient westerly winds.
We've all been there: you want to go on a flying holiday on your own and are faced with the problem of finding information about the flying area of your choice. Nowadays there are many sources on the Internet, but you have to search for them laboriously. Wouldn't it make sense to be able to fall back on a single source? Clemens Lehner offers such a source in playing card format.
The Brauneck - I have a kind of love-hate relationship with this mountain. On the one hand, the wind often can't decide which direction it wants to blow from, which then results in a change of position, e.g. from north to south or vice versa. On the other hand, I don't particularly like it as a hike and fly mountain either, as you always have to master steep passages on the ascent. This can be very exhausting. Nevertheless, I occasionally climb the Brauneck, as it also offers certain advantages, such as three take-off directions (north, south and east) and the possibility of flying in thermals on the broad southern flank of the Benediktenwand even in winter.
Chrigel Maurer's autobiography Der Überflieger is an exciting and very personal journey through the life of one of the best paragliders in the world. In this book, the exceptional athlete provides a deep insight into his experiences, thoughts and the development of his impressive success. The book is written in simple language, which makes it accessible to a broad readership, and is of great interest to fans of flying and adventure-seekers in particular. The book is only in German available
Autumn time is hike and fly time. Every year, I make plans to try this special form of our sport in autumn. Unfortunately, it often fails due to time constraints or simply laziness. The conditions on this day were ideal for putting the plan into practice. The forecast was for a north-westerly, moderate wind and sunshine. In order to achieve a good training effect, the ascent of the Jägerkamp followed by a start on the Nagelspitze seemed to me to be an ideal mountain for a hike and fly.
Where can you fly 100 or even 200 XC kilometres? What should I bear in mind? What equipment should you have with you? What skills should you have to fly such distances? How can I plan routes? What tools will help me to find the next thermal in flight? Questions upon questions, which I get to the bottom of in an interview with Ulrich Scheller, an experienced cross-country pilot.
