Located at an altitude of 1812 meters with a height difference of 1042 meters, this site is occasionally used and typically offers shorter flights. It is not clear if launches are possible on both sides of the cable car. This site is not suitable for north winds. Some small flights towards the valley/northwest have been recorded from here. Access is restricted to club pilots and pilots from the Aufwind flight school. Region: Rohrmoos, Austria. The site record is 25.9 km. Contact: Flugschule Aufwind - [Aufwind Flight School](http://www.aufwind.at) Access: Cable car, car. Suitable for: Paragliders, hang gliders. Approved training area. Launch Sites: 1. West Launch: Located 50 meters south of the mountain station parking lot. 2. North Launch: Directly next to the cable car. 3. East Launch: East, below the Hochwurzenhütte. Launch Characteristics: Grass launch sites, with the west launch being relatively steep. Special Notes: Only the west launch is suitable for hang gliders. Important Considerations: Do not launch with south winds, even light ones, due to rotor effects. The valley wind (east) often reaches launch height in summer, where the main wind direction is west due to sun exposure. Therefore, switch to the east side immediately after launch over the chairlift. Observe wind directions during the ascent. The area is flyable year-round but unsuitable for south wind conditions. It offers excellent opportunities for soaring, thermal, and cross-country flights. Cable Car: Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen - [Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen](http://www.planai.at) Tel. (036879) 22042-0 Pilot Meeting Point: Andi’s Schirmbar at the Pichl landing site, directly at the valley station, is a common spot to meet other pilots for a post-flight beer. Accommodation: [Heisshof](http://www.heisshof.at) offers a log cabin right at the edge of the landing site, just 20 meters from the Hochwurzenbahn valley station. Access: About 8 km east of Schladming, in the Ennstal. Other Information: Very suitable for solo pilots, as the landing site with parking is directly at the valley station. The Aufwind flight school conducts training and tandem flights at Hochwurzen. Launch Sites: - North Launch (easy): Directly below the mountain station (4-seater chairlift) of the Hochwurzenbahn on the slope. The launch site is somewhat shielded from the slope, so skiers and pilots usually do not interfere with each other. - West Launch (difficult): Steep clearing launch, about 50 meters south of the mountain station/Hochwurzenbahn on a cleared area. Aborting the launch is difficult. Be cautious as lines can easily get caught in the numerous rocks and branches. A light headwind significantly reduces the risk of tree landings. Flight: Fly along the ridge and find thermals above the larger forest clearings from midday onwards. With sufficient altitude, you can fly towards Planai or Gasselhöhe. With enough height, it is also possible to cross the Ennstal and fly towards Dachstein. Landing Site Pichl (easy): Large meadow directly next to the valley station (4-seater gondola) of the Hochwurzenbahn. The valley wind direction can be well determined using the flags in front of the Hochwurzenbahn building and the windsock on the hay barn. Difficulty: Do not use the north launch with west wind, even if the west launch seems too narrow and steep. Lee turbulence forms behind the trees. The only alternative is to wait for a calmer phase or use the west launch. Pay attention to the sometimes strong valley wind. There is a high-voltage line near the road/Enns. Soaring Conditions: Soaring is easily possible along the ridge with west wind.