Kandahar – Express – Kreuzjoch Startplatz

Kandahar – Express – Kreuzjoch is the highest of three connected takeoff points in the Kreuzeck area above Garmisch-Partenkirchen, launching from 1,690 m on wind from the north to north-west and sharing its landing field with the nearby Hexenkessel-Kreuzjoch and Tröglhang launches. As at its neighbours, flying is suspended the moment the weather turns critical, and pilots keep well clear of the adjacent cable car, its netting and the masts strung along the right side of the launch area. Setup and launch happen from the gravel patches next to the meadow rather than on the grass itself, protecting the legally protected alpine pasture that borders the site. Training flights are allowed here too, with the rules calling for one instructor stationed at the launch and a second at the landing field, splitting supervision across both ends of the flight.

Launch & conditions

Keep a safety distance from the cable car and its netting and masts on the right side of the launch, and use the gravel patches rather than the protected pasture for setup.

Local rules & hazards

Flying is suspended here the moment weather turns critical, and pilots keep clear of the neighbouring cable car, its netting and masts on the right side of the field. Training flights need one instructor at the launch and another at the landing field.

Check conditions before you fly

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