Page 27 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

Travelling from east to west across the country, Martin Lifka introduces some of his favourite sites in Austria

Emberger Alm,
Greifenburg
This is one of the top spots for XC in the

southern Austrian Alps. At 1,940m ASL,
or about 1,300m above the Drau Valley,
Emberger Alm is the perfect start point
for any pilot flying XC. Head west towards
Lienz, then up to Obervellach or Mallnitz
in the north and then towards Spittal before
flying back to Greifenburg for a manageable
100km triangle. Heading further west will
give you access to the roughest but most
rewarding routes between the Italian South
Tyrol and the main Alpine ridge. Be aware
though that, especially in spring, conditions

can be demanding and valley winds in the
afternoon can give you a hard time when
landing. Strong rain and thunderstorms in
summer can influence the strength of valley
winds dramatically. Get informed at the
Fliegercamp campsite in Greifenburg, where
you can purchase day passes and tickets for
the shuttle service.
fliegercamp.at

Gaisberg, Salzburg

The Gaisberg is known as the first turnpoint
of the Red Bull X-Alps. But it also has a very
long history in Austria’s free-flight story
– sailplanes were first launched from here
in the 1920s. The spot is on the southern
outskirts of the beautiful city of Salzburg.
Before flying the Gaisberg you should get
in touch with the local club Fly4Fun. The site
is in the middle of Salzburg Airport CTR

and the first pilot of the day must call the
tower. Check in with the club in advance or
members on site and make sure to purchase
the day pass for €5. Launching is possible
towards the E, N and W, but even though
the Gaisberg seems quite straightforward,
certain days and wind directions can be
demanding, so take care.

From here the big Alpine sites like
Bischling and Dachstein are also within easy
reach. Check the SkyClub Austria website for
an insider’s guide to flying there.
www.paragleiter.com/english/flightrules
www.skyclub-austria.at

AUSTRIAN ALPS CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 27