Camou, Pian San Giacomo

An afternoon site at about 1,348 m that works better later in the day, depending on the season: between April and August the best take-off time is generally after 15:00. It suits both soaring and thermal flying, with the best conditions in late spring and through the summer, when the left flank of the mountain is reliably working. Flying south after take-off is possible, but be careful of the south wind there — it is flyable, though it sometimes gets bumpy.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is possible right above the water station, but the better option is the lawn at the end of the street, beneath the trees, which avoids launching in a cross wind.

Getting there & local rules

It is possible to reach take-off by car, but you should really avoid driving up: the road is meant for the people who own property there. The strong recommendation is to park at the public parking spaces by the closed restaurant and walk the 20 minutes up to Ghifa/Camou — it is healthier, and it lets you read the current wind conditions much better on the way.

Local rules & hazards

There are no airspace restrictions in this area, but check the Swiss daily airspace bulletin and NOTAMs before taking off anyway. There are, however, many restrictions here for wildlife protection: do not land or take off anywhere other than the indicated spots. The official landing exists thanks to an agreement with the farmer, so be respectful — land, pack your wing and go, as ground handling there is strictly to be avoided. Try to find a spot where the grass is not too high and avoid landing right in the centre of the lawn. The alternative landing down the valley should only be used in light wind: landing there with a 20 km/h headwind leads to a potentially very dangerous lee-side landing, though in normal conditions of up to about 10 km/h headwind there should be no problem. This is an alpine area — watch out for storms in summer, expect the weather to change quickly, and treat the forecasts with some caution, as they are less reliable near the northern end of the alpine chain.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Camou, Pian San Giacomo, 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 Camou, Pian San Giacomo with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.