Ruchen, Mountain summit in Glarus, Switzerland.

Ruchen is a mountain summit in the Glarus Alps standing at 2,611 meters high. Its location defines the valley landscape, and its geology displays multiple rock layers documenting different geological periods.

The mountain formed through continental plate collisions that shaped the Swiss Alps and pushed together different rock zones. This process shaped the region millions of years ago.

The Foo Pass south of the summit carries a hiking trail from Weisstannen in St. Gallen to Elm in Glarus, part of the Alpine Pass Route between Sargans and Montreux. The less known Riseten Pass north of the Foostock links Weisstannen with Matt in Glarus. Both routes cross the range that separates the Sernf Valley from the Weisstannen Valley.

The summit is reachable via marked routes, with the best climbing season between June and September when snow has melted. Experienced mountaineers should bring proper equipment and have basic Alpine climbing knowledge.

The Foostock is also called Ruchen, and the two names sit on either side of the cantonal border: the summit marks the line between Glarus and St. Gallen. Hikers coming over the Foo Pass from Weisstannen to Elm pass just south of it, while the quieter Riseten Pass links Weisstannen with Matt to the north.