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Description
At an elevation of 2125 meters, the Gitschberg launch site in Meransen, Italy, offers a unique paragliding experience. This site is rarely used but provides opportunities for soaring and some cross-country (XC) flights.
The launch direction is southwest to west, and it's conveniently located about a minute from the mountain railway. It's particularly good for west winds or late afternoon thermals on the west side.
For more information, you can contact Bat-Flyers Weitental at [Bat-Flyers Weitental](http://batflyers.jimdo.com/fluggebiet-bergbahn).
The Gitschberg cable car operates from mid-June to October, with a midday break. Operating hours are from 8:30 to 11:45 and from 13:30 to 17:00. Detailed schedules can be found on [Meransen's website](http://www.meransen.com/).
In spring, when the cable car is not in service, you can drive to the 'Scharte' parking lot near Kieneralm (1741 m). From there, it's about a 45-minute hike to the 'Gitschhütte' (2210 m), the mountain station of the cable car. Make sure to bring provisions, as the huts may not be open.
In summer, the gondola only goes up to the mid-station. From there, you'll need to hike further to gain altitude. Without thermal support, the distance to the next landing spot can be quite far, especially if you aim to land in Meransen. Landing near the church without gaining altitude is unrealistic, but you can land near the railway on the slope.
In winter, you can combine skiing with paragliding using short skis. If the lower slopes are snow-free, you can fly for 1-2 hours around midday in January. Thermals usually form just west of the Kiener-Alm slope (Serger-Wiese). Be sure to head to the landing spot in time, as there are power lines at the end of the gorge.
For winter launches, there are spots near the summit station facing west and east. The east-facing launch is good for cross-country thermals in spring. A recommended winter and summer route with east wind is to start south, then turn left towards the east, heading to Vintl in the Pustertal, with a 1750 m altitude difference.
In spring, cross-country flights in the Pustertal are possible, but avoid north winds (opt for Kronplatz instead). Early thermals can be found on the east side of Gitschberg, near the summit. You can fly to Bruneck (Pfalzen) and back. If you find yourself low near Pfunderertal, fly in for landing and thermal opportunities.
The valley wind in Pustertal often changes with the sun, blowing east in the morning and west in the afternoon. This makes it possible to reach Sillian or further by midday, but returning can be challenging. Most large round-trip flights are done from Sillian in the opposite direction.
In autumn, thermals provide a good alternative to the Dolomites. The cable car operates until mid-October. In high-pressure conditions with east wind, a 15-minute walk to Gitschhütte allows for better east launches.
The landing spot in Meransen requires a glide ratio of at least 7 to reach without thermals. The landing area is higher than the valley station of the cable car, so this must be considered to avoid landing in the village. A good reference point is the church spire.
For weather information, visit [South Tyrol Weather](http://www.provinz.bz.it/wetter/suedtirol.htm).
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