Author: Gary Helzerman
[report by Gary Helzerman]
The Jordan Jam went down as scheduled on March 9. –It was my first!
The day started with a four-hour drive to the North-country of Michigan, requiring a departure time of 5:00AM in order to make the official start time of 9:00AM. Fortunately I had a traveling companion in John Rutherford.
There was a lot of speculation, as usual, as to how the skiing would be, given the weather here in Michigan of late. It turned out to be an exceedingly challenging day but an absolutely awesome outdoor experience requiring deep reserves of fortitude and optimism.
In the eyes of a true outdoor all-arounder, Jordan Jam was a blast.
Seven people showed: John, Jen, Nate, Scott, Dick, Jackie, Gary. Two women joined us — a first for the ladies. [JP and other regulars were indisposed by a wedding and skiing elsewhere.]
We were ready to ski by 9:40AM. It was sub-freezing but the temperature was predicted to reach 45F. We started from the winter parking area for the Deadman’s overlook. Within a quarter mile we were on singletrack. The initial singletrack was rolling through northern Michigan forest with a mix of hardwood and pine. The snow on the trail bed in this section had some activity but not enough that an even surface had been worked in. One person on skis had passed several days before and that track had crusted in, so it was not a good thing. The snow was deep so good powder baskets would’ve been a plus — but I didn’t have them. The snow also had a crust that was substantial enough to carry you sometimes but would unpredictably break through. The plus side was that while there allegedly were some expert skiers among us,you couldn’t tell who they were as the crust was causing major carnage.
After a few miles of the gently rolling Michigan forest we got into the big hills. This is what the Jordan Valley Pathway is all about. We went steady for an hour and twenty minutes from the parking lot and laid down five miles. When we stopped and took a break there was talk of alternative routes, but there was also hope that the temp would start to soften the crust. After a 10-20 min break we started again and in that time the snow had underwent a noticeable transformation. It wasn’t great but it was starting to soften on top. We were “all in” at this point.
By 1:00PM the snow crust was soft enough that you could manage step-turns and hillside traverses safely but not fast. We finished at 5:30PM. The snow in the last 2-3 hours was cooling off and still forgiving — this turned out to be the best skiing of the day.
The scenery was incredible as we traversed the escarpment that is the Jordan Valley. The river is a beautiful wilderness river with incredibly clear and fast flowing water. At times we would descend to the river and creek bottoms, moving among the cedars and saplings, while at other times after long climbs we would stand atop the closest thing Michigan has to mountains with expansive vistas of northern Michigan forest.
No major injuries. The skiing speeds were dictated by one’s all-around slogging and traversing skills. The most remarkable aspect of the day is that we pulled together as seven pros.
I walked back in the house at 10:45PM. …That was a great day!
In terms of data-tracking, I started my GPS after the first break at five miles, 1 hour 20 min in (per another’s GPS), but my numbers are below and the averages were consistent all day:
Time: 6:18 (7hrs 38 mins total)
Elevation Gain: 4370 feet (wow!!!)
Ave speed: 2.4 mph
Dist: 14.9 miles (19.9 total)
Jackie at the finish.
End of the Big Day.
Earned his stripe in the Jordan Jam Army.
Can say he finished — how many can?
Nate jamming at the end of his first Jam.
These two just took a big step up in their BC skiing.
NCT — a special trail.
Deep into it.
A feel for the big hills.
Taking a break, thinking it over — pushing forward!
What have we got ourselves into?
Starting the JJ Day.
