Säntis Paragliding Sites

gets steep quickly! For good starters! Descent from the mountain station to the Lisengrat. High alpine (via ferrata)! Sure-footedness and head for heights required. Meadow launch site, steeply sloping. The Säntis is located about 10 km (as the crow flies) south-southwest of Appenzell. The valley station at Schwägalp can be reached all year round on well-maintained roads. Access is possible without a car sticker. Schwägalp is also easy and convenient to reach by public transport. The post buses run regularly from Urnäsch and Nesslau in Toggenburg and end directly at the valley station. Although the Säntis summit is "only" 2,502 m above sea level, it is recommended only for experienced pilots due to its deep embrasures. Sure-footedness, high alpine experience and the necessary respect are required to tackle this impressive flight. The exposed location also provides for extreme weather conditions, which are otherwise only common in the high mountains. Paragliders who want to start here must therefore be prepared for difficult conditions. You cannot and must not start directly from the Säntis. From the Säntis mountain station you must therefore follow the "footpath" (secured with steel cables and stairs) over the Lisengratweg in the direction of the Rotstein Pass. The launch site is facing west-southwest and is very susceptible to wind. Therefore one should consider a flight here only with weak W-SW winds in the eye. The launch site quickly becomes very steep. Good and safe take-off technique is therefore a basic requirement to get into the air safely. The start to the east must not be made because of the restricted area. The flying area is mainly visited in autumn. The best flight conditions are usually found from late summer until the first snowfall in October. Who wants to fly in the summer the mountain should start rather early in the morning or late in the evening. In the lunchtime it can become very sporty here. The flight usually ends underwater, as the Falalp-Säntis game reserve is located in the north with a minimum altitude of 3,000 m above sea level. Mountain hopping is very popular here. After landing in Unterwasser, you can take the train directly to Iltios/Chässerugg and continue your flight from Chäserrugg to Walenstadt. Appenzellerland Tourism AR Bahnhofstrasse 2 CH-9410 Pagans Phone +41 (0)71 898 33 00 Fax +41 (0)71 898 33 09 info.ar@appenzell.ch http://www.appenzell.ch 1- and 2-seater Säntis-Suspension Railway AG CH-9107 Schwägalp Phone: +41/(0)71/3656565 kontakt@saentisbahn.ch http://www.saentisbahn.ch/pages/d/index.php Flying school Appenzell Phone: +41/(0)71/7991767 info@gleitschirm.ch http://www.gleitschirm.ch Flying school Säntis Phone: +41/(0)71/8414747 info@fs-saentis.ch http://www.fs-saentis.ch Flying school Ostschweiz Phone: +41/(0)71/9313020 info@fso.ch http://www.fso.ch Air Community Alpstein http://www.fga.ch Altitude 2375m

With a good north wind, you can choose the steep north launch site. However, it is not for beginners as the approach distance is minimal. Good glider control is a must here. The official launch site is the west site! North launch S3: facing NW-NE; only suitable for safe launchers and only recommended if there is sufficient wind. There is just enough space to lay out a glider on the path; when the lines are taut, you are already on the steep slope. This is not a cliff, but should still be used with caution. The only launch site with south (west) wind in the Alpstein! Lay out below the drag lift cable. At the landing place you have to fly around the ridge to the right. Long way to the landing site. The flight path leads into the lee of the mountain. The green hill lies above Jakobsbad and can be reached by cable car from the village. The valley station of the aerial cableway is located directly next to the Jakobsbad railway station, in the high valley of Gonten. On the Kronberg you can find 3 starting places, which allow you to take off in almost every direction. This is one reason why the mountain is often visited by numerous flight schools from the region. It will therefore rarely happen that you stand alone at the starting point. Especially as the Kronberg is the only "normal" starting point (except for the high alpine Säntis) in the south of this region. The three starting places are located in the immediate vicinity of the mountain station. Appenzellerland Tourism AR Bahnhofstrasse 2 CH-9410 Pagans Phone +41 (0)71 898 33 00 Fax +41 (0)71 898 33 09 info.ar@appenzell.ch http://www.appenzell.ch 1- and 2-seater Jakobsbad-Kronberg AG CH-9108 Gonten Phone: +41/(0)71/7941289 Fax: +41/(0)71/7941613 http://www.kronberg.ch info@kronberg.ch Flying school Appenzell Phone: +41/(0)71/7991767 info@gleitschirm.ch http://www.gleitschirm.ch Flying school Säntis Phone: +41/(0)71/8414747 info@fs-saentis.ch http://www.fs-saentis.ch Flying school Ostschweiz Phone: +41/(0)71/9313020 info@fso.ch http://www.fso.ch Air Community Alpstein http://www.fga.ch Altitude 1640m

West start S2: alignment W-WNW; long, increasingly sloping meadow, therefore optimal; to the right (north), however, there is a drop-off, to the left fir trees. Schools have priority. So be careful with southern influence and detachments at the edge of the forest. Also: don't lose too much height before the launch site, it's still a long way to the landing site! Suitable for safe starters and only recommended when there is sufficient wind. The green hill lies above Jakobsbad and can be reached by cable car from the village. The valley station of the aerial cableway is located directly next to the Jakobsbad railway station, in the high valley of Gonten. On the Kronberg you can find 3 starting places, which allow you to take off in almost every direction. This is one reason why the mountain is often visited by numerous flight schools from the region. It will therefore rarely happen that you stand alone at the starting point. Especially as the Kronberg is the only "normal" starting point (except for the high alpine Säntis) in the south of this region. The three starting places are located in the immediate vicinity of the mountain station. Appenzellerland Tourism AR Bahnhofstrasse 2 CH-9410 Pagans Phone +41 (0)71 898 33 00 Fax +41 (0)71 898 33 09 info.ar@appenzell.ch http://www.appenzell.ch Small, steep launch site east of the mountain station. 1- and 2-seater Jakobsbad-Kronberg AG CH-9108 Gonten Phone: +41/(0)71/7941289 Fax: +41/(0)71/7941613 http://www.kronberg.ch info@kronberg.ch Flying school Appenzell Phone: +41/(0)71/7991767 info@gleitschirm.ch http://www.gleitschirm.ch Flying school Säntis Phone: +41/(0)71/8414747 info@fs-saentis.ch http://www.fs-saentis.ch Flying school Ostschweiz Phone: +41/(0)71/9313020 info@fso.ch http://www.fso.ch Air Community Alpstein http://www.fga.ch Altitude 1639m

The green hill lies above Jakobsbad and can be reached by cable car from the village. The valley station of the aerial cableway is located directly next to the Jakobsbad railway station, in the high valley of Gonten. On the Kronberg you can find 3 starting places, which allow you to take off in almost every direction. This is one reason why the mountain is often visited by numerous flight schools from the region. It will therefore rarely happen that you stand alone at the starting point. Especially as the Kronberg is the only "normal" starting point (except for the high alpine Säntis) in the south of this region. The three starting places are located in the immediate vicinity of the mountain station. Appenzellerland Tourism AR Bahnhofstrasse 2 CH-9410 Pagans Phone +41 (0)71 898 33 00 Fax +41 (0)71 898 33 09 info.ar@appenzell.ch http://www.appenzell.ch 1- and 2-seater 1- and 2-seater Jakobsbad-Kronberg AG CH-9108 Gonten Phone: +41/(0)71/7941289 Fax: +41/(0)71/7941613 http://www.kronberg.ch info@kronberg.ch Flying school Appenzell Phone: +41/(0)71/7991767 info@gleitschirm.ch http://www.gleitschirm.ch Flying school Säntis Phone: +41/(0)71/8414747 info@fs-saentis.ch http://www.fs-saentis.ch Flying school Ostschweiz Phone: +41/(0)71/9313020 info@fso.ch http://www.fso.ch Air Community Alpstein http://www.fga.ch Altitude 1636m

Different TO's available!- HG's takeoff right underneath gondola;- South TO: take off : 47.2837N, 9.4133E;- North TO: as indicated on map: 3min walk from gondola. . Attention - we are practicing here! The slope SP is a bit bumpy and not even. DRACHEN start next to it on the left. Flat, then more inclined meadow above the first starting place. In case of stronger westerly winds, danger of rotors. Toplanding difficult and only possible in exceptions. On the Ebenalp, the meadow flanks extend high above the neighbouring Rhine Valley. Thanks to its optimal location, excellent infrastructure and excellent thermal conditions, Ebenalp has become one of the most popular attractions in the foothills of the Alps, both for paragliders and hang-glider pilots. The crowds and queues at the launch site are correspondingly high, especially at the weekends. The free flyers are then joined by 3 or 4 Swiss flight schools from the region, and the best take-off places are quickly gone. Fortunately, the extensive start meadows can cope relatively well with this mass rush. Discipline is still the order of the day. From Wasserauen, the Ebenalp gondola floats to the launch sites for a mere 12 Swiss francs including the landing fee. Appenzellerland Tourism AR Bahnhofstrasse 2 CH-9410 Pagans Phone +41 (0)71 898 33 00 Fax +41 (0)71 898 33 09 info.ar@appenzell.ch http://www.appenzell.ch s. Launching place 1 1- and 2-seater / Training 1- and 2-seater / Training Aerial cableway Wasserauen-Ebenalp AG CH-9057 Water meadows Phone: +41/(0)71/7991212 Fax: +41/(0)71/7991213 http://www.ebenalp.ch info@ebenalp.ch Flying school Appenzell Phone: +41/(0)71/7991767 info@gleitschirm.ch http://www.gleitschirm.ch Flying school Säntis Phone: +41/(0)71/8414747 info@fs-saentis.ch http://www.fs-saentis.ch Flying school Ostschweiz Phone: +41/(0)71/9313020 info@fso.ch http://www.fso.ch Air Community Alpstein http://www.fga.ch Altitude 1594m

Main launch site of the deltas over the cliff. Only recommended for safe paraglider starters. The restaurant cables are in close proximity! Altitude 1600m

Take-off direction is west to south. The launch site is a large meadow and easy. Possible in an easterly direction, but challenging. 1- and 2-seater 1- and 2-seater Altitude 1517m

Nice short Hike & Fly. There are 2 ways to start. 1st N-NW(W): directly below the restaurant. Tel. Easy starting point, a bit uneven and steep. 2. N-NO: walk a few meters further by the antenna. Difficult launch site, steep and directly in front of a row of trees. But there is a small aisle. Caution with the slider that it is enough for her the relatively high power lines. 1- and 2-seater Altitude 1271m

The starting places are generally rather demanding. Some runways are very short! Season: Whole year (see aerial cableway timetable) Transport: funicular railway and aerial cableway. Depending on the starting point, there is still a 20-minute walk to be made. Dangers: Since the runways are sometimes very short, you should not start with too little wind. In summer, thermal rotors can also be built on the southwest edge. Do not start on hairdryer. Game protection: no flights at the eastern take-off point from 14 May to 14 June. Fees: The take-off / landing fee of 5 Fr. per day is voluntary. In case of bad weather, the fee includes a free ride downhill with the train. If you have not paid a take-off/landing fee, you will have to pay for any downhill run. Comment: The Chäserrugg is a challenging flying area. However, if the conditions are right, you are in one of the most beautiful areas. The view of the Säntis and the Alpstein as well as Lake Walen is unique. Start window: All year round Altitude 2260m

The starting places are generally rather demanding. Some runways are very short! Season: Whole year (see aerial cableway timetable) Transport: funicular railway and aerial cableway. Depending on the starting point, there is still a 20-minute walk to be made. Dangers: Since the runways are sometimes very short, you should not start with too little wind. In summer, thermal rotors can also be built on the southwestern edge. Do not start on foehn. Game protection: no flights at the eastern take-off point from 14 May to 14 June. Fees: The take-off / landing fee of 5 Fr. per day is voluntary. In case of bad weather, the fee includes a free ride downhill with the train. If you have not paid a take-off/landing fee, you will have to pay for any downhill run. Comment: The Chaeserrugg is a challenging flying area. If the conditions are right, however, you are in one of the most beautiful areas. The view of the Saentis, the Alpstein and Lake Walen is unique. Start window: All year round Altitude 2293m