3/12/09 – Here is the latest from Sawbill’s poet laureate, Ed Dallas:
snow covered backyard
somewhere a hummingbird
begins the journey

3/11/09 – Well, the big storm was a little disappointing. We only received 9.5″ of snow instead of the forecast 16″. Still, it was a decent snowstorm with seriously cold March temperatures following. – Bill

33″ of snow on the ground right now with temperatures hovering between 0 and -13 degrees. Winter fun!

3/10/09 – Storm! We are just starting a classic northern Minnesota March blizzard. The National Weather Service is predicting 16″ of snow with high winds. At times, the snow is supposed to fall at a rate of 2″ per hour. We love blizzards. The batteries are charged and the wood room is full. It’s a good feeling. – Bill

Here is the picnic table in front of the store just as the storm began this afternoon. As you can see, there was plenty of snow on the ground to start with. I’ll post another picture after the storm.

2/27/09 – For many years, Frank Hansen wrote the “West End News” column for our local weekly paper, the Cook County News Herald. Recently, Frank switched to writing the same column for our wonderful local community radio station, WTIP. You can read and/or listen to his columns online.

2/24/09 – Cindy visited her parents in Hovland, Minnesota (about 50 miles further up Lake Superior’s north shore from Tofte) and had the rare treat of ice skating on Lake Superior. Lake Superior is so big, that ice doesn’t form until fairly late even during a cold winter like this one. Once formed, some ice often persists well into May. – Bill

Cindy skates across the vast landscape of Lake Superior.

The ice and water are so clear that the rocks on the bottom can be clearly seen.

Cindy standing in front of her childhood home in Hovland.

2/15/09 – After two days of rain and above freezing temperatures winter has returned with style. This morning is crisp and clear with every twig and needle covered in snow.

Glorious winter day.

2/9/09 – The other day our terrier, Roy, came home with a Daredevil style fishing lure stuck in his hind leg. Fortunately, it was mostly stuck in his fur and not so much in his skin, so it was removed without much trauma. The question is, where did he find a fishing lure to sit on at this time of year? Of course, everyone immediately started finding humor in the situation with cracks like: “I didn’t realize the Roy season was open right now!” and “I wonder if he broke the line or if the fisherman cut the line when he/she saw what was hooked?”
Many years ago a distraught couple brought in their dachshund with a Rapala firmly hooked in its nose. We discovered that the same quick, painless method used for removing hooks from human flesh also works on wiener dogs. – Bill

Phoebe and Roy inspect the lure that hooked Roy.

2/6/09 –

Today is Frank Hansen’s 88th birthday. Frank and mary Alice founded Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in 1957. Happy birthday Frank!

2/5/09 –

Wilderness Classroom is a successful and innovative initiative founded by Sawbill crew member and guide Dave Freeman. A slide show about their recent Amazon River adventure will be shown in St. Paul, which may be interesting for all of you in the Twin Cities area. Here is the scoop:
Location: The Grand Ole Creamery
750 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
When: Sunday, February 8, 5:00PM
Phone: 773-314-3104
What could be a better way to get rid of your midwinter blues than listening to tales of adventure from the Amazon Rainforest (where 90 degrees is the average temperature) and chowing down on an ice cream cone the size of your head?
Join Sawbill guides, Amy Voytilla and Dave Freeman at the Grand Ole Creamery for an evening of ice cream, images, and stories from their latest expedition. They are back in St. Paul after completing the Trans-Amazon Expedition, a 3,000 mile journey by bicycle and canoe across South America. Amy and Dave can’t wait to share some their favorite experiences from this amazing adventure with you!
The Wilderness Classroom is a nonprofit organization that helps 3rd to 8th grade students expand and explore their world through live expeditions that are interactive on the web. Over the last 7 years the Wilderness Classroom has conducted 10 expeditions aimed at highlighting some of the world’s wildest places.
A $20 requested donation will help fund the Wilderness Classroom’s upcoming program (you’ll find out what it is at the presentation!). If you have any questions please contact Amy at 773-314-3104 or email a_voytilla@yahoo.com
Follow this link to let us know you are coming and to invite your friends!

2/4/09 – Dan Walch sent along these great pictures from his winter camping trip on north Sawbill a couple of weeks ago.

A couple of moose on the north end of Sawbill Lake. The bull will be losing his antlers soon.

A great grey owl blends into the landscape.