First

First is a high hike-up launch in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, at 2,520 m, with wind options from north or south-east depending on the day. There's no lift to the top: pilots follow an approach similar to the nearby Allmenalp take-off, then hike up a further roughly 700 vertical metres to reach First itself — so this is a site for pilots willing to earn the altitude on foot, not a drive-up launch. At this height and this deep into the Alps, Swiss airspace is a genuinely complex subject, so get a proper airspace briefing before you fly rather than relying on general knowledge. The reward for the hike is real vertical and a choice of wind directions, which is part of why it's specifically noted as a hike-up destination rather than a casual afternoon site.

Launch & conditions

Works on north or south-east wind — check which is on for the day before committing to the hike.

Getting there & local rules

The approach follows a route similar to the nearby Allmenalp take-off, then a hike gaining roughly 700 additional vertical metres to reach First itself.

Local rules & hazards

Swiss airspace around here is genuinely complex — get a full airspace and danger-area briefing before flying, not just a wind check.

Check conditions before you fly

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