Krippenstein

Krippenstein launches from the top of this Dachstein massif peak in Austria's Salzkammergut at 2,046 m, with an almost vertical 1,500 m drop to the valley floor below — one of the biggest relief flights in the area. The site is popular for thermal and cross-country flying, and hikers reach the takeoff on foot as an alternative to the cable car. Wind reaches the launch from a wide arc — north through northeast, east, southeast, west and northwest all work — which gives some flexibility for the day's forecast, though the scale of the terrain makes this a site for pilots who already have some flying experience rather than a first mountain flight. Access up is by the Krippensteinbahn cable car. Down in the valley there's a choice of good, flat open landing fields around the village; avoid the nearby lake — it's cold, and going in is not a landing you want.

Launch & conditions

The launch sits at the very top of the Krippenstein, a nearly 1,500 m vertical drop to the valley — reachable by the Krippensteinbahn cable car or on foot.

Getting there & local rules

Ride the Krippensteinbahn cable car up, or hike to the launch. Landing options are the open fields around the village below; keep clear of the nearby lake.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Krippenstein, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Krippenstein with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.