12er Kopf Zwoelferkopf (Pertisau – Achensee)

12er Kopf (Zwölferkopf), above Pertisau on the Achensee in Tyrol, is a solid thermal, soaring and cross-country site at around 1,441 m, with wind directions from northeast, west and northwest all working here. All of its takeoffs sit within a 5–10 minute walk of the gondola station, so getting up is quick regardless of which one you use. Airspace in this part of the Rofan range needs checking before you fly, as with any Alpine site near restricted zones. The wind to really watch for locally is what pilots call the 'Bavarian wind' — named for the direction it blows in from — which can build strong enough to make launching and landing genuinely unsafe; the usual answer is to wait it out until it eases in the evening. For a live read on conditions, pilots here skip the windsock and just watch the waves on the Achensee below — it's the clearest wind indicator around.

Launch & conditions

All takeoffs sit within a 5–10 minute walk of the gondola station; workable in northeast, west or northwest wind.

Getting there & local rules

Reached by gondola from Pertisau; check current airspace restrictions for this part of the Rofan range before flying.

Local rules & hazards

The local 'Bavarian wind' can build strong enough to make launching and landing unsafe — the usual answer is to wait until it settles in the evening. Watching the waves on the Achensee below gives a clearer wind read than any windsock.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to 12er Kopf Zwoelferkopf (Pertisau – Achensee), read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open 12er Kopf Zwoelferkopf (Pertisau – Achensee) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.