Trail Detail

Madison, WI
10K
Skating/Classic
Yes
No
[ NWS ]
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Notes

Two main loops: East and West trails. East trails are more hilly, West trails are lighted (5K).
Proximity
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Trail Reports

2018-2019 season
Reports 1 to 10 of 24    Month: Mar | Feb | Jan | Dec
Monday, March 18, 2019
Afternoon
Secondhand 
[ Trails Open: Partial ]
CXC and Madison Nordic Ski Club will continue to groom the manmade loop through the week. Thanks to Yuriy Gusev and crew for a great season.
(Mike Ivey)
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Morning
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: Partial, Rock skis ]
Manmade snow is hard, fast, a little bumpy, and one navigable crevasse. Ultimately 1km+ of skiable trail for diehards.
(Nathan Brown)
Monday, March 11, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Both 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Groomed in the morning and in very good condition, amazing for the rain and wet snow. There should be a tip jar for the groomers. I skied all trails which were covered, some soft spots at the bottom of the East hills and some tracks on the West. It was beginning to ice up at 6PM when I left. Skating was lightning fast.
Photos:
(Robert Abendroth)
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
Thanks so much to the groomers. Deep firm tracks, a bit slick on the uphills. Skate deck looked perfect. A great day to ski.
(Denny Blum)
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Trail in great shape with some corduroy left on firm base. Track looked good also. I recommend trying it tomorrow before the next weather change. Thanks to whoever groomed it late in the season.
(Ian Duncan)
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Freestyle 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Maybe best I've ever seen Elver Park, at least in my aging boomer memory. Fresh cord on all trails as Madison Parks crew had Pisten Bully and Gator both working it as we skated at noon under bluebird skies. Tracks were mostly solid -- although pine debris on East Trails will prove nagging to classic skiers. Go get it while you can.
Photos:
(Mike Ivey)
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
I was here at 9:30 am and stayed on the West side to avoid the wind and get the sun, 6 degrees as I skied. Grooming had just been done, it was firm, fast and fun. Went down all three hills with no trouble. The only thing to watch for is the oak leaves as they were not in abundance but some innocuous patches caught me skis even though I had waxless. One would have been an epic face plant had I not been slowly going up. Don't assume you'll glide over them.
(Robert Abendroth)
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Night
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Good skis ]
I'll give full disclosure by saying it was my first ski at Elver. I love night skiing, which is why I went tonight. Having had a near-perfect afternoon ski at a state park, and having checked the park's site first--it said groomed recently--my expectations were high. The night was clear, and winds were calm. I skied classic, and it was a very tough ski. Track, where present at all, was soft, shallow, and with weak side walls. Lots of leaves made it unsafe in wooded areas--at least with any speed. I did the west side, which is supposed to be lighted. Most of the large green (easy) loop was lit, but the green loop around the ball diamonds was not. Track connecting the 2 green sections was non-existent. Again, since this was my first time at Elver, I don't know if that section is normally groomed or lighted, or if grooming in the rest of the park gets better at other times. Definitely better skiing to be had in the area. While I don't skate ski, long sections of the skate deck had been hiked on leaving deep boot prints. Wish I had better news.
(Jeff Nesta)
Friday, February 15, 2019
Afternoon
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, B skis ]
No grooming as of 5:25Pm. Rock hard skate deck and very icy classical tracks on the West. I got about 30 feet on my Mica base waxless and switched to fish scale skis. On some sections it's the fastest I've ever gone on them. Brutal trying to climb the hills. Some pole plants stuck so hard I almost fell. No grooming on the East with an even harder skate deck from the wind, the classical tracks had some fresh snow and weren't at all bad. I hope we haven't reached the city date for ending grooming.
(Robert Abendroth)
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Morning
Firsthand: Classic 
[ Trails Open: All, Good skis ]
Spent an hour at Elver this morning. Blowing snow has completely covered the man made loop and connecting trail to the woods. Nothing has been groomed since our most recent snowfall. However, very nice skied-in tracks on the extended loop in the woods.
(Ben Kjorlie)

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