Birkie Classic

Birkie Classic is a short, out-and-back cross-country ski route in northern Wisconsin, about 1.7 miles from the town of Cable. The trail is only 0.28 miles long, with a total climb of 28 feet, so it's a quick addition to a day spent exploring the surrounding network of ski trails. The route is flat for most of the way, with the steepest stretch at about 0.05 miles in, where the grade reaches 2 percent. The high point is 1,440 feet, and the low point is 1,414 feet, so the climb is barely worth mentioning. The trail is rated moderate, which makes sense for a short outing that pairs easily with other routes in the area. Winter is the natural season for this kind of skiing. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Drummond show January highs around 19°F with lows near 3°F, while February is slightly milder at about 25°F. Summer is warm, with July highs near 76°F, but the station sits about 100 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run a little cooler. Korte Inn is just 0.1 miles away, and the Birkebeiner Trail and Old Korte Trail are both within a third of a mile. For a change of pace, the Namekagon River offers fishing about 0.7 miles off.