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Description
The Pizol, also known as "Hohe Spitze" in Romansh, is a mountain located in the Sarganserland region of the Canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The area is popular for both hiking and skiing, situated above the villages of Mels and Bad Ragaz. Below the Pizol peak at 2844 meters, you'll find the small Pizol glacier.
The Pizol area is accessible via two gondola lifts, one from Wangs and another from Bad Ragaz. This makes it a convenient and beautiful flying site with significant altitude differences.
The launch site is a flat area for layout, followed by a steep meadow. The launch window faces south and is of medium difficulty. The coordinates for the launch site are 9.42341013, 46.97843047, and it is situated at an altitude of 2220 meters. The site is reachable by a 15-minute walk from the gondola station.
Flights typically start from the Pizol hut or the mountain station of the Pizolbahn (from Wangs) and head right towards Vilters and Bad Ragaz. It is crucial to follow the instructions regarding the Bad Ragaz airfield. In good conditions, gaining altitude is not an issue, allowing connections towards Fanas, Churfirsten, or Chur.
On ideal weather days, you can fly a triangle route: Pizol - Gonzen - Vilan - Pizol, which involves multiple valley crossings, so ensure you have sufficient altitude.
Soaring conditions are favorable with light bise winds, allowing for extended soaring along the ridge edges below the launch site or further down the valley to the right.
In winter, be cautious of fog (check the webcam). Often, the Reinthal is foggy, but the landing site remains open. Weather considerations include potential turbulence at the Wangs landing site during bise conditions and the strong, unpredictable valley wind system in the Taminatal. When starting southwards towards the Taminatal, avoid flying too low to ensure a safe landing at Wangs.
Pay attention to the Bad Ragaz airfield, as you will inevitably enter the 5km radius. Hang gliders are tolerated as long as rules are followed:
- Do not fly between Bad Ragaz and Vilters.
- The road from Tennisplatz Wangs to Pizolpark should only be crossed during valley crossings (watch out for motor aircraft landing approaches).
- Landing in Bad Ragaz or towards the Rhine is prohibited.
The Bad Ragaz airfield can be contacted via the radio frequency 123.500 MHz or, in exceptional cases, by phone at 079 353 53 77.
For more information, visit [Pizol Paragliding](http://fluggruppepizol.ch/fluggebiete/pizol/).
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