Elevator

Elevator is a cross-country ski route in Rusk County Forest, Wisconsin, on county land about 0.4 miles from the town of Rusk. The route is short, roughly 0.75 miles round trip, and rated hard, so it's a steep outing rather than a casual one. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest section at about 0.16 miles from the start. That stretch reaches a 14% grade, and the total elevation gain is about 200 feet one way. The high point is about 1,590 feet, and the route is an out-and-back, which means you turn around and retrace your steps. Winter is the natural season for this. Typical January highs run around 23°F with lows near 5°F, according to averages from a nearby weather station. The station sits lower than the route, so temperatures on the high ground run cooler. Several other ski routes lie close by, including Up & Down at 0.2 miles, Hairpin at 0.3 miles and Rabbit at 0.4 miles. The Penokean Wall climbing area is about 7 miles away.