The GASTLOSEN. Yes. A particular mountain range that resembles Dolomites but here, not far from home. Home of climbers and hikers. It is a WOW, when you see the Gastlosen. Monday morning after quite a tiring week of work I decided to be a tourist. Packed my backpack (not much, little jacket, sticks, sun cream!) and drove 25 minutes to Jaun where the tour starts. Being quite lazy I took my Magic Pass (cheap season ticket that offers you free and unrestricted access to 25+ stations in few cantons) with me.
Got up to Musersbergli and started my tour. My target now was: Chalet du Soldat. On the info boards it says it takes 1 hour and 20 minutes but it took me 40 minutes easy walking, taking pictures. It’s an easy hike in the forest . You don’t have to change that much altitude. Goes from 1565 m to 1752 m. After more than 4 km of hiking you find yourself next to Chalet du Soldat. The chalet was built during the Second World War and was an initiative of a major who wanted to prepare the troops for winter combat. Now is a meeting place for many hikers. They do offer meals, so if you are already hungry go and order yourself some Swiss goodness. I was quite surprised when the boss – Nicolas Gavillet, who took over the chalet this year, went out on the terrace and started playing on the Alphorn. It doesn’t get more Swiss than that.
After a little break I started climbing up to Wolfs-Ort. It’s not long but it goes up and up and is more demanding than before.
From Wolfs-Ort it’s down. You get to see the limestone Gastlosen from other side and they still have this WOW effect but a bit more gentle. Way down is much longer than climbing up. First part of the ascend is very flat and you get to admire the Gastlosen all the time. Later you start loosing the altitude quicker. Stunning walk in the forest.
When you get out of the forest you follow a road that takes you to Chalet Grat and then once again into the forest. I walked all the way to Jaun this time (didn’t use my Magic Pass) and it was a good choice. Picturesque, flowery with Gastlosen by your side almost all the way.
Practical information:
Starting point: Musersbergli (1565 m)
Target: Chalet du Soldat (1752 m), Wolfs-Ort (1920 m), Jaun (1015 m)
Hike lenght: around 15 km
Time: less than 4 hours
Tip: Gastlosen tour all in all is 11 km long and as the info says it takes around 4-5 hours. The starting and ending point then is Musersbergli lift. It can be a family escapade but if you’re not that fit I would finish in Chalet du Soldat and then take the same way back, since climbing up to Wolfs-Ort is quite demanding and then it’s a long way down. Take sandwiches with you and find your spot for a picknick next to breathtaking Gastlosen.
Reserve your stay in Chalet du Soldat: here.
Text: Agnieszka Wajs
