N.D. Cortright
@ndcortright.bsky.social
Working in the law-mines; Collector of Hobbies; Part-time unpublished writer; goblin garbage wizard
Broke out my holiday mug today.
December 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Broke out my holiday mug today.
Ah yes... The wonderful time of year where Michigan hasn't decided if it wants it to be autumn or winter or maybe even summer again, for a bit?
November 10, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Ah yes... The wonderful time of year where Michigan hasn't decided if it wants it to be autumn or winter or maybe even summer again, for a bit?
And I was just one visitor. I left with these pictures, blistered feet, and a sense of quiet contentment and peace that lasted me months.
September 13, 2025 at 3:46 PM
And I was just one visitor. I left with these pictures, blistered feet, and a sense of quiet contentment and peace that lasted me months.
And the visitors came as well. Taking copper from the amygdaloidal basalt. Thousands of years of visitors to this good place.
September 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
And the visitors came as well. Taking copper from the amygdaloidal basalt. Thousands of years of visitors to this good place.
The island's stones were created by a massive lavaflow over a billion years ago. Glaciers carved it over twelve thousand years ago and made it an island. Life filled it since then, one venture at a time.
September 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The island's stones were created by a massive lavaflow over a billion years ago. Glaciers carved it over twelve thousand years ago and made it an island. Life filled it since then, one venture at a time.
My route was six nights, 52 miles. The longest hike of my life, (so far). I stayed at Lane Cove, McCargo, Todd Harbor, West Chickenbone, Moskey Basin, and Three Mile.
September 13, 2025 at 3:22 PM
My route was six nights, 52 miles. The longest hike of my life, (so far). I stayed at Lane Cove, McCargo, Todd Harbor, West Chickenbone, Moskey Basin, and Three Mile.
Realizing it was never going to happen by itself, I talked to my wife and picked a date. I told my friends I was going and the date ton book for the ferry. Sadly it didn't work out for them. So I did it alone.
September 13, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Realizing it was never going to happen by itself, I talked to my wife and picked a date. I told my friends I was going and the date ton book for the ferry. Sadly it didn't work out for them. So I did it alone.
My hiking group attempted to plan a trip, but life got in the way. During the intervening 13 years, I got married, had two kids, and buried both of my parents. My friends equally had happy additions and sad subtraction to their lives.
September 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
My hiking group attempted to plan a trip, but life got in the way. During the intervening 13 years, I got married, had two kids, and buried both of my parents. My friends equally had happy additions and sad subtraction to their lives.
Isle Royale was a long-term goal for me. I started hiking back in 2011. One of my first purchases was Jim DuFresne's Backpacking in Michigan. It had an entire section on the park.
September 13, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Isle Royale was a long-term goal for me. I started hiking back in 2011. One of my first purchases was Jim DuFresne's Backpacking in Michigan. It had an entire section on the park.
My last day on Isle Royale. Another foggy morning. This was my shortest day, coming from Three Mile Campground into Rock Harbor. I took frequent breaks to watch the water and take in the silence.
September 13, 2025 at 12:21 PM
My last day on Isle Royale. Another foggy morning. This was my shortest day, coming from Three Mile Campground into Rock Harbor. I took frequent breaks to watch the water and take in the silence.
Another shot of the lighthouse a couple miles down the trail. The mist had started to burn off. The weather was amazing with the daytime highs in the most 70s. I got rained on once the entire trip for about four minutes.
September 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Another shot of the lighthouse a couple miles down the trail. The mist had started to burn off. The weather was amazing with the daytime highs in the most 70s. I got rained on once the entire trip for about four minutes.
During my sixth day on Isle Royale a fog cloud swept in. I had promised a work friend that I would try to get her a picture of a lighthouse. I thought I had missed it, but discovered this in what I thought was a random snapshot. I couldn't see it at the time due to the fog, but the camera got it.
September 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
During my sixth day on Isle Royale a fog cloud swept in. I had promised a work friend that I would try to get her a picture of a lighthouse. I thought I had missed it, but discovered this in what I thought was a random snapshot. I couldn't see it at the time due to the fog, but the camera got it.
Day 5 of last year's trip to Isle Royale. Moskey Basin. Something very large ran through my camp that night and snagged on my tent guideline. It could have been a fox... but I am going to hold to my belief that it was a wolf.
September 11, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Day 5 of last year's trip to Isle Royale. Moskey Basin. Something very large ran through my camp that night and snagged on my tent guideline. It could have been a fox... but I am going to hold to my belief that it was a wolf.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Isle Royale because it shows how big the island is. The water is Chickenbone Lake where is spent the night a year ago.
September 10, 2025 at 8:35 PM
This is one of my favorite pictures of Isle Royale because it shows how big the island is. The water is Chickenbone Lake where is spent the night a year ago.
Continuing to document my Isle Royale trip from last year. It was either very dewy and my camera kept getting covered in fog, or I caught one of the local spirits on camera. Believe as you see fit.
September 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Continuing to document my Isle Royale trip from last year. It was either very dewy and my camera kept getting covered in fog, or I caught one of the local spirits on camera. Believe as you see fit.
Another shot from a year ago. One of the most amazing sunsets of my life. Todd Harbor, Isle Royale.
September 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Another shot from a year ago. One of the most amazing sunsets of my life. Todd Harbor, Isle Royale.
A year ago. The start of my third day on Isle Royal. I was slow getting started that day, as I had done 13 miles of the roughest hiking of the trip the day before.
September 9, 2025 at 12:22 PM
A year ago. The start of my third day on Isle Royal. I was slow getting started that day, as I had done 13 miles of the roughest hiking of the trip the day before.
A year ago, almost exactly. I stopped for a break on my drive up for my week on Isle Royale
September 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM
A year ago, almost exactly. I stopped for a break on my drive up for my week on Isle Royale
This was last week. I really miss vacation.
August 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This was last week. I really miss vacation.
Wanted: Teddy
For Crimes Against Backyard Agriculture. Lettuce Larceny. Purloining Parsley. Radish Ruinaion.
For Crimes Against Backyard Agriculture. Lettuce Larceny. Purloining Parsley. Radish Ruinaion.
July 6, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Wanted: Teddy
For Crimes Against Backyard Agriculture. Lettuce Larceny. Purloining Parsley. Radish Ruinaion.
For Crimes Against Backyard Agriculture. Lettuce Larceny. Purloining Parsley. Radish Ruinaion.
We have now been to the bog twice this week to check on the boy's carnivorous plant friends.
June 3, 2025 at 12:18 AM
We have now been to the bog twice this week to check on the boy's carnivorous plant friends.
Welcome to the kill zone, flys.
June 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Welcome to the kill zone, flys.
Teddy has decided we have to enter the Neutral Zone.
April 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Teddy has decided we have to enter the Neutral Zone.