Challenger
- 0.7 mi
- round trip
- 305 ft
- climb
- 1,045 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Apr, Jun–Oct
- best months
Challenger is a cross-country skiing route on city land within the Pleasant View Golf Course in Wisconsin. The course lies within the city of Madison, and the trail is short and compact: the out-and-back run is about 1.3 miles, with a high point of 1,045 feet and a total climb and descent of about 305 feet each way. Winter is the natural season for this course. Typical averages from the Charmany Farm weather station, about 4 miles away and at a similar elevation, put January highs around 26°F and lows near 10°F. February is only slightly warmer, with highs around 31°F and lows near 13°F. Late fall and early spring bring milder conditions, with October and April highs near 60°F. The route starts with a steady climb that peaks at about 0.24 miles, where the grade reaches roughly 13 percent. It is a short, hard climb for skiers looking to get on the snow quickly. Several other cross-country ski routes sit within a quarter mile, including Round-A-Bit, West Loop and The Fairway.
Best time to go · Apr, Jun–Oct
Best time to visit Challenger
Best months: April and June–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
26° / 10°
8 wet
Feb
31° / 13°
8 wet
Mar
43° / 24°
9 wet
Apr
56° / 35°
12 wet
May
68° / 47°
13 wet
Jun
78° / 57°
12 wet
Jul
82° / 62°
10 wet
Aug
80° / 60°
10 wet
Sep
73° / 52°
10 wet
Oct
60° / 39°
10 wet
Nov
45° / 27°
9 wet
Dec
32° / 16°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Charmany Farm, WI, 4.2 mi away at 1,046 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
