Take-off – Santa Maria in Valle Vigezzo
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- Direction
- NNEESESSWWNW
- Coordinates
- 46.1627, 8.4754
- Altitude
- 1772 m
- Region
- Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, IT
- Landing
- 3.8 km from the take-offView on map ↗
Take-off description
HG: - at the gondola station (2 winsocks) PG: 1) Cima 2: 15-20mins walk along the ridge to the west on the highest point. With binoculars, the windsock can be seen from the valley; 2) Pizzo Trubbio: access by foot (1hr) or by gondola (in winter or when arranged).
Getting there
Italy: from Domodossola: follow signs 'Locarno'; Switzerland: from Locarno: follow signs 'Cento Valli'. In Sta.Maria: follow sign 'funivia'.. Info cablecar: http://www.pianadivigezzo.it/impianti.php Take the cablecar to go up to the takeoff sites. Free parking next to cable car but number of places limited. In summer until July it runs almost every 30min, from July until september - continuously. Ticket 6EUR for PG pilots (as of 2011).
Weather
Absolutely NOT with norderly winds ('Nordfoehn'). The thermals in the valley can be so strong as to cause problems when landing (especially for HG! > drag chute...). Webcam Piana di Vigezzo: https://www.bergfex.it/craveggia-piana-vigezzo/webcams/c6087/
Comments
Specific local feature: the valley breeze West from Santa Maria Maggiore and East mostly blows in two completely different directions. The confluence occurs normally slightly east from the town. You can use it to cross the valley towards south without loosing altitude, even with gaining it.