We've talked for years about visiting the Bärenlocher in the Jura, but yesterday was the first time we actually got around to doing it.
We start with the Wolfschlucht (a really nice gorge we've done
before). At the end we turn left instead of right and come up into the sun (yay! sun! it was cold in the gorge!).
Continue a bit along the path/road and then head off onto the Bärenlochweg. This starts as a road, then narrows down to a trail (unmarked, but frequently used) before turning steeply up the face. Nice trail with railings takes us to the larger of the two Bärenlocher. Impressive hole with good views, cool natural bridges above (we'll cross one of those), and a tree growing through the roof.
Tea break to enjoy the views and the sun, then back a bit and up to the second, smaller Bärenloch. This has an actual cave area. We ignore the trail/ropes leading out the back and head out around the front and steeply up (following a path), to come to the natural bridge over the bigger Bärenloch. Nice! Across this and then further along the path, steeply up again, until we get to the Holi Flue. This is a short cave we get to actually crawl through. At the other side we sign the book, admire the schnapps bottles (what?) and then continue on our way along the trail. Up the saddle and then up to the viewpoint for a food break in the sun with nice views. Then up, up through the woods some more, along the way to follow trail, until we come up on the broad ridge near the Hinter Brandberg. Past this (it's closed... boooooo) and up to the trail which we follow along the ridge. On we go, along the really nice dry stone wall starting at Probsteberg, enjoying the sun and the views to Malsenberg (also closed... boooo!).
Here we opt to continue along the ridge in the sun instead of staying on the hiking path. First we find a nice comfy place out of the wind with good views to sit in the sun and have another food break. Up along the ridge to p1239, then across fields to the alp on Walenmattweid, where we pick up the road down to Gänsbrunnen that we took on a tour
last year.
Nice tour with plenty of sun, good views, a beautiful gorge, caves, and some good T4 bits. What more could you ask for as a "Sunday stroll"?
Track:
Stats: 13.5km, 930m up, 800m down
