VolBiv with the Wind

Sister and brother Melanie and Christian Weber set off together with photographer Adi Geisegger direct from their house on a VolBiv. They slept rolled up in their paragliders wherever the thermals had set them down, discovered new things close to home, and were amazed how quickly everyday life disappeared.

“The paraglider is the simplest flying device that I know”, says Adi Geisegger. Sort out the lines, check the airspace and we’re off. Adi Geisegger and siblings Melanie and Christian Weber celebrate this simplicity. They are not looking for records in the Himalayas, but an adventure for Otto-Normalpilot, that begins at their own doorstep in the Allgäu, Germany. “We simply flew in a different direction from usual”, is how Adi describes the chosen route.

The flight was like the first crossing of a journey of exploration. “The beauty of our flying area is that doesn’t have a big valley wind system, so you can land anywhere”, explains Adi about flying in the Allgäu. You don’t often reach your flying limits here, “although the landscape has a few challenges to offer.” The Allgäu suits the less experienced pilot.

From the beginning the weather was not especially favourable for the trio. Originally they wanted to set off from their “Mittag” home hill near Immenstadt towards the Bodensee, but there’s too much west wind. “So we improvised and just made the best of it”, said Adi. Instead of annoying the weather gods, they would change course at short notice. Downwind, towards the east, is the answer.

But conditions still left something to be desired. After making the first big crossing to the Spieser by Bad Hindelang on the first day the adventurers were again on the ground. Next day the clouds grew faster than a pilot would like, but, even so, they climbed to base and flew towards Reutte with a tailwind. The big bowl presented a decision for them: left via Plansee or right to the Heiterwangertal?

As the most experienced of the team Adi decided: the Heiterwangertal looked more promising. But the valley and the general wind conspired against them, and their feet reached  the ground at the Heiterwangersee.

“Failed decisions are a part of flying”, says Adi and laughs. “That is the reason why I still fly after 23 years”. One and the same place can be different every flight. Wind direction, time of year, solar heating, temperature gradient: there are countless variables that affect whether a route will work or not.

But this is also part of bivouac flying: a spontaneous attitude, always look for the positive. So the luckless flyers are soon enjoying the hospitality of a Heiterwangersee pub, and can recoup their forces for the 1,200 metre climb to the Kohlbergspitze next day.

The team spent the evening and night wrapped in their paragliders by the camp fire. Again the thermals didn’t want to play ball next day so the flyers simply changed the plan and spent a wonderful day on the Hebeltaljoch. A break from everyday life is so easy to arrange – completely free time and the quiet of the mountains.

On the last day of this journey the weather was considerate, at last: great conditions are forecast. “We wanted to finish with a highlight”, declared Adi. He had in mind the takeoff from the Zugspitze. To achieve this, Melanie, Christian and Adi took off early and headed towards Germany’s highest mountain, landed at its foot and set off on the climb to the Hochfernerkopf.

Time suddenly became pressing. The 3,000m wind was expected to increase after midday, and this could rule out a takeoff. The beer tent buzz on the cable car plateau and the nearby summit is a shock after the silence of the climb. Even so the trio relished the last few meters to the takeoff, a bit below the summit. Here, between glacier, ladders and ropes, calm again prevailed.

Strong thermal gusts made for a difficult takeoff, but all three got safely into the air. The feeling of soaring above the mighty rock faces of the Zugspitze cannot be described, and paid off for the hard climb up, explains Adi.

“Actually it’s the same – whether you fly 20 kilometres or 200”, summarises Adi. What is important is that “you discover places and details that you have never seen before, and land where you have never landed before”. The small flying team achieved this goal on their journey of discovery from home – without doubt.