Speiereck

Speiereck is a big mountain site in the Lungau region of Salzburg, Austria, launching around 2,000–2,049 m and working on a wide range of wind directions from north through southwest — a genuine thermal and cross-country venue, with hike-and-fly potential too. There are three separate takeoffs here. The main summer launch, at roughly 2,000 m, needs coordinating with the local flying club, who typically gather at the landing field on weekend mornings and drive up together. In winter, access shifts to the cable car: from the top you can either walk about half an hour to the standard launch or take a second lift up to the summit and launch from there instead. One piece of local knowledge worth knowing before you fly: in a north wind, Speiereck isn't the site to be at — pilots head to nearby Aineck instead. Landing is on a large meadow roughly half a kilometre from the gondola station, marked by several windsocks, and it's also where the shuttle back up departs from.

Launch & conditions

Three takeoffs: the main one at roughly 2,000 m is mainly a summer launch reached by arrangement with the local club (weekend meetups at the landing field, then a drive up); in winter, reach launch via the cable car, either walking about 30 minutes to the standard launch or taking a second lift to the summit. In a north wind, fly Aineck instead — Speiereck isn't the site for it.

Getting there & local rules

Reached by shuttle from the landing zone or by gondola.

Local rules & hazards

In a north wind, head to the nearby Aineck site instead of Speiereck.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Speiereck, 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 Speiereck with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.