Points North Photo Gallery 01

I thought it might be nice to post some of my favorite photos from my award winning book, Points North. The book contains over 150 photos from all across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Click on the images to get the larger version and the full in your face experience.

: Sun sparkles off the water as the Little Garlic River flows through Marquette County, Michigan. This was taken on a morning hike into the Donelley Wilderness Tract. A hiking trail runs several miles along the river and the rim of the gorge that it has cut over the centuries. I like to hike in mornings because it is cool and the bugs are less active. During midday they can be vile. When that happens it is time to go find some place to drink heavily. The sounds of the rushing water and the smell of the pines permeates everything. The leaves begin to rustle with a morning breeze adding to the assault on the senses. The beauty of the Donelley speaks for itself.

: Canyon Falls in Baraga County, Michigan. A part of the Sturgeon River, this is a trail that originates in a roadside park along M-28 east of L’Anse. The roar of the water is overwhelming and the cool air permeates the rocks all around. The forest is deep here and the sun has to fight to reach through the canopy of leaves. The river carves out a deep rock gorge that extends for many miles into Baraga County.

: Evening settles in at the campsite at Kingston lake in Alger County, Michigan. I had spent the day paddling around the small lake encountering wildlife and other paddlers out on the water. I built my fire and was getting ready for dinner. I noticed how nice the setting sun was coming through the dense trees. I decided to try to preserve the moment. This is one of my fondest memories of writing the book.

: An old iron mine still stands in Caspian, Michigan at the Iron County Museum. Going through this was really a fun day. There are several acres of museum here with thousands of artifact displays. It is a celebration of the iron era of the Upper Peninsula and the community from where it sprang. Standing below the enormous still standing mine is dwarfing. It is not somewhere I would ever have wanted to have to make a living.

: A family of Trumpeter Swans at the Seney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I make several trips a year through the refuge looking for nice wildlife shots. I had pulled over and was stretching my legs from riding. As I wandered into some underbrush, this family of swans was in front of me. Immediately realizing I might disrupt them from my blundering around, I slowly started backing up. As I was moving away I snapped off a couple of shots. I always have a telephoto zoom lens so the picture appears closer than it really was.

: One of the trails through lush forest at Big Knob State Forest Campground. This is one of those places where you follow a sign on a whim. I had no idea what was back here and I was nothing more than curious. I stayed a couple of days at Big Knob, west of Naubinway. There is a beach here, but the attraction for me was the hiking trails. The lush forest and ferns lends an almost fantasy feel to the forest. I hiked every trail I could find here. I nearly got lost once, but I GPSed my way out.

: I came across this old sawmill on Drummond Island, Michigan in Lake Huron. I love old relics and this one was still in good condition. I got off my ATV which I was riding at the time and got off to investigate the old place more closely. I figured it was abandoned since sawmmills were everywhere in Michigan’s past. Much later I learned that it was privately owned and was still occassionally used. It turned out to be a friend of mine and my personal lawyer. Who knew?

: Sunset over Garnet Lake in Chippewa County. This beautiful spot is hard to find and rarely used. A small campground is here and this was taken from my campsite. I paddled around the lake earlier in a kayak and could see saw logs on the lake bottom. This tipped me off to the idea there might be more to this place than just a lake. Eventually exploring the surrounding roads I located what used to be the town of Garnet.

: The view is of Thunder Cove on Grand Island in Lake Superior. I stayed in a cabin here for a few days and hiked around the island . This picture is from one of those hikes. Thunder Cove is on the west side of Grand Island and receives the roughest weather Superior can throw at it. When the waves are high and breaking below, the cove rumbles and shakes from the impact making a thunderous sound. When I was there it was a perfectly gently day. I spent a little time here on the bench in the image. I mean, why wouldn’t you?

: Seul Choix Lighthouse is near Gulliver, Michigan and has been a beacon on the shore of Lake Michigan. This lighthouse was restored a few years back by the Gulliver Historical Society. It now houses a museum dedicated to the area. Though I didn’t see him, the lighthouse is reputed to be haunted by one of its former keepers. It is said he even ran off some burglars one night bent on breaking into the lighthouse.

: Grand Portal at sunset. This is in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Lake Superior. This was from one of the sunset cruises. We had motored past Grand Portal and went on to Spray Falls. Sunset cruises are great because they present such extra color. We turned around and headed back towards the sunset. As we neared Grand Portal we slowed down. I could see what the cruise captain was trying to do. I was ready when he lined us up perfectly for the photo. This is a treasured shot of mine.

: Hikers look at the Lake of the Clouds from the escarpment in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I don’t know how many times I’ve been here and hiked these mountains. I’ve lost track. There is a picture on my desk taken from the Lake of the Clouds valley looking back up at that escarpment in the shot. Most visitors to the Porkies take this very shot. It’s almost cliche. Yet its beauty and grandeur never fails to impress. To experience this place is like none other. I contstantly return to this place again and again until I can return no more.