The Gastlosen are a small mountain range located between Gruyère and Pays d’En-Haut. It is a strongly dented chain forming a narrow ridge. Large limestone cliffs are therefore located on either side of the ridge and make them popular rock-climbing spots. The ridge culminates at the Dent de Savigny. There is only one pass that allows easy crossing of this ridge: the Wolfs Ort.
The Gastlosen tour has become a favourite hike for a very varied population of walkers in recent years. You will therefore meet a lot of people there, especially since a few chalets-restaurants offer the possibility to refresh or eat something. The consequence is that this attractive hike is very popular.
There are several possible starting points for the tour. However, it is worthwhile, as we did, to take the chairlift (called Gastlosen-Express) which leaves not far from Bellegarde (to be precise, at Oberbach). This avoids the 550m of positive elevation gain that would be necessary to reach the Mauzes Bergle and avoids clogging up the few car parks located on the alpine pastures.
The tour then begins in a downhill direction, along a mud-road passing in front of the Gustiweidli (the small bull pasture), before crossing the forest. At the exit of the forest, a climb along a mud-road, steep in some places, allows you to reach the Chalet du Soldat (also sometimes called the Chalet du Régiment). From there, the tour continues along paths.
At the beginning, you must cross the slopes by climbing towards the Wolfs Ort. Some sections are steep but equipped. The equipment is not necessary for those who have a mountain foot who are used to walking in the mountains.
At the Wolfs Ort, the atmosphere changes completely since you are then crossing to the south-east slope of the Gastlosen, which is therefore very sunny. At the other end of the Gastlosen, you then reach a chalet that is well named, since it is located at the angle that the mountain forms here: the Grat (the ridge).
Itinerary: Mauzes Bergle (arrival of the Gastlosen-Express) – Gustiweidli – Ober Sattel – Chalet du Soldat – Wolfs Ort – Grat – Mauzes Bergle
Distance: 11.1Km
Elevation gain: 770m
Duration: 4h30
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