Best Conditions
Description
The Hörnle in Bad Kohlgrub, Germany, is a favored spot for leisure paragliders. The mountain has been the home site for the Kocheler Paragliding Friends since 2008. The local municipality of Bad Kohlgrub, along with the 1st German Tandem Flight School, manages the area. Pilots can conveniently reach the launch site using a chairlift, which is affordable and drops them just 50 meters from the summit station. Launches are only permitted with winds from the north. For specific regulations and conditions, information is available at the valley station. During grazing periods, pilots must use the lower launch site.
The area is also used for pilot training. Interested flight schools should contact the municipality of Bad Kohlgrub directly. There is a campsite at the landing site, and Bad Kohlgrub offers a variety of good pensions and hotels. More information can be found at [Bad Kohlgrub](http://www.bad-kohlgrub.de/).
The launch site is accessible by chairlift, which operates from 9:00 to 16:00. The single ride cost in summer 2010 was 6 Euros. The launch area is a few meters away and slightly lower than the summit station. A windsock is available. The launch is a clearing start, with enough space for 3 to 4 gliders to be laid out comfortably. If livestock is present, launching from the upper site is prohibited, and pilots must use the lower launch site.
The terrain is beginner-friendly and suitable for training, with a northern orientation. Thermal activity is usually not very strong, and there is no valley wind system. The chairlift prices are very reasonable, though it is somewhat slow. Parking at the lift is paid (as of 2010: 2 Euros for up to 4 hours, 4 Euros for the whole day).
Thermal conditions are typically active in the afternoon due to the north-facing slope but are generally not very productive. Cross-country flying is challenging, with the best chance being towards the south to Laber and beyond. Strong side winds are not suitable for launching.
During grazing periods at the upper launch site, launching is prohibited. There is an alternative launch site near the small mountain rescue hut, 160 meters lower, accessible by foot. After 17:00, launching is rarely possible due to increasing tailwinds.
For those who prefer to hike, the starting points are either the valley station of the Hörnlebahn or the Sonnen district (Sonnbichl Inn). There are various hiking trails from all directions to the Hörnlehütte, with the summer trail (north side) being relatively steep in parts. The hike takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on fitness levels. The Hörnlehütte offers decent refreshments, though it is usually closed in November and April.
Soaring is possible with a strong north wind, but there is no valley wind ridge. The terrain to the north is flat, requiring a strong regional north wind.
For more information on the chairlift, visit [Hörnlebahn](http://www.hoernlebahn.de/).
Paragliders often gather at the Hörnlehütte before flights and at the Sonnbichlhof near the landing site after flights. Bad Kohlgrub offers numerous accommodations with around 4,000 guest beds in various categories. For more details, visit [Bad Kohlgrub](http://www.bad-kohlgrub.de/).
During landing, always perform a left-hand circuit.
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