Gross Ruchen, Alpine mountain peak in Uri, Switzerland

Gross Ruchen is a 3,138 m mountain in the Glarus Alps in the canton of Uri, between Gross Windgallen to the west and Chli Ruchen to the east. Its north face drops over 1,000 m toward the Brunnital, and the Ruchenfirn glacier lies east of the summit between roughly 2,600 and 3,100 m. The Ruch Chälen, a firn couloir up to 40° steep, separates its walls from those of the Chli Ruchen.

The Gross Ruchen was first climbed on 12 July 1864 by the Englishman John Sowerby with the guides Ambros Zgraggen and Josef Maria Tresch-Exer. In 1999 Urs Odermatt and Stefan Tuni made the first ascent of the 700-metre north-east face. On 28 September 2026 a rockfall sent about 2,000 m³ of rock from the north face into the Brunnital.

The mountain's name uses the Swiss German word "Ruchen", referring to a jagged rock peak. The easiest ascent runs through the Ruch Chälen, a firn couloir up to 40 degrees steep, leading to the Ruchenfirn and then the summit; it is regarded as one of the demanding ski tours of Central Switzerland. The 700-metre north-east face was first climbed in 1999 by Urs Odermatt and Stefan Tuni.

The easiest ascent runs through the Ruch Chälen, a firn couloir up to 40° steep, leading to the Ruchenfirn and then the summit; it is regarded as one of the demanding ski tours of Central Switzerland. The north face holds an alpine climbing route of grade III, and the 700-metre north-east face was first climbed in 1999 by Urs Odermatt and Stefan Tuni. The Brunnital below the north wall is reached from Unterschächen.

The easiest ascent runs through the Ruch Chälen, a firn couloir up to 40 degrees steep, leading to the Ruchenfirn and then the summit. It is regarded as one of the demanding ski tours of central Switzerland. The 700-metre north-east face was first climbed in 1999 by Urs Odermatt and Stefan Tuni.