"What appeals to you about paragliding?" I asked Patrick after landing. He grinned and answered without hesitation: "Definitely the challenge!"
And what a challenge we had set ourselves that Saturday! A cross-country flight from Einsiedeln with the ambitious goal of Zurich. The plan was clear: take off at Hummel, traverse to Studen, continue over the Biet to Druesberg, where we wanted to set the southern turning point. From there, with the southwest wind at altitude, we would fly via Klöntalersee to Walensee – turning point number two. We planned the third turning point at Höhronen, where the crucial question would arise: return to Einsiedeln for a clean 70 km FAI triangle or risk the direct route to Zurich?
But as is so often the case with paragliding: The theory is one thing – reality is a completely different story.
A perfect start by foot
The day began with some sport. From Gross, we hiked to the launch site. The group was motivated, and we easily managed the 500 meters of altitude in under an hour. Once at the top, a steady northeast wind of 10 to 15 km/h awaited us – perfect for a quick ground handling session. We were in no hurry. We watched the other pilots who had already taken off. They managed to hang on for a bit, but the thermals we'd hoped for? None.
XCTherm promised a thermal launch at 1 p.m., with a base at 2,000 meters. So we used the time to observe and talk shop: Where were the first clouds forming? Is the base rising? Is there a wind offset? Where might the thermals break? Some spotted circling birds of prey—a good sign. But the air mass toward Zurich was sluggish: cloudy, stable, and no clouds. Our observations matched the weather forecast—and confirmed our plan to fly east first.
Take off – and then?
When the first faint thermal bubbles appeared, I prepared for takeoff and took to the air. The climb was gentle, easy to center – but still weak, and I still couldn't get high. At 1,500 to 1,600 meters, I stopped. One after the other, the others took off, but the coveted cloud base remained elusive.
A glance at the next ridge brought about a change: Above the foothold, the paragliders were higher, and a small cloud lane was emerging. I quickly decided to go forward, accelerated, and flew to the foothold. A cloud formed in my direction of flight, but it dissipated once I was below it – and I found myself in descending air. The thermals were cyclical today.
Marcel crossing to the Tritt
Now it was time to get to work: fly upwind, soar up, and wait for the next bubble – and sure enough, after 15 tough minutes, I was finally at base at around 2,000 meters. I radioed the others to follow suit. Some tried, but the A-wings had a hard time landing high enough for the kick. Patrick, on his new Iota, managed it – with patience and clean technique.
Plan B: Direct to Zurich
Together we flew south along the ridge. Everything ahead was in shadow, but the air was good, and we had to be careful not to get caught in the clouds. Towards the east, the clouds were thicker and, in my estimation, larger. So I abandoned our original plan and came up with a new one. Arriving over the Rotenflue, we decided to take the direct route to Zurich.
View towards Brunnen, in the picture Patrick above the great Mythen
We reached Hochstuckli over the Mythen. Now it was time to make the final route decision: take the direct route over Morgartenberg, north of Lake Ägeri – or take the detour via Chaiserstock, Wildspitz, and Zugerberg? The cloud pattern gave us the answer: we flew toward Chaiserstock.
There we were able to climb up the north side once more – but the really high altitude never materialized. A final attempt to get to base failed. The thermals had faded. After another 30 minutes, it was clear: Zurich remained a pipe dream. We hung up.
Conclusion of an instructive day
Even though the long-distance flight was not successful, it was an intense, exciting day with valuable insights:
A plan motivates – but flexibility wins. Weather forecasts and plans are good, but in the end what counts is what the air actually provides.
Situational awareness is everything. Cloud formations, wind shifts, birds of prey – those who remain alert will find opportunities.
The 45-degree rule when flying near clouds is not a theory – it protects us from loss of control.
Motivation has many faces. Some were happy about the airtime they'd gained, others marched up a second time to try again. And Patrick? He concluded: “Challenge fulfilled – but not as expected!”
