Far East

Far East is a cross-country ski route in Rusk County Forest, Wisconsin, on county land about half a mile from the town of Rusk. It's a short, easy outing, with a total round-trip distance of about a mile and a total climb of about 114 feet. The route is an out-and-back that starts at roughly 1,530 feet and reaches a high point of about 1,546 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.4 miles in, with a grade of about 7 percent. The route is short enough to fit into a longer day of skiing in the area. Winter is the natural season for cross-country skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show January highs around 23°F with lows near 5°F, and February is similar at about 28°F and 8°F. That station sits several hundred feet lower than the route, so temperatures on the trail run a little cooler. Several other ski routes lie close by. Otter Slide is about 0.3 miles away, and Grouse and Shadyway are each about 0.4 miles off. For climbing, the Penokean Wall is about 7.7 miles away.