5/11/18 – While several early bird paddlers have already embarked into the Wilderness from the Sawbill entry point, many anxious folks have been asking about the ice status on Brule. Brule, as the largest lake entirely within the Wilderness, is slower to shed its winter covering. Dan stopped by Brule this afternoon to get a first hand view. He reports that he couldn’t see any ice from the launch, but if you’ve been there before, you know the majority of the lake is out of view from there. Satellite imagery is still showing ice on the main portion of the lake. It’s safe to say though, it’s on its way out!
Dan snapped this photo looking out into Brule from the canoe launch.
5/7/18 – It’s tradition at Sawbill to bet on what day the ice will go out. Bill always bets his birthday, May 5th. Following in her Pop Pop’s footsteps, the littlest outfitter Kit Shirley bet her birthday May 7th. Sure enough, not only did we celebrate Kit’s second birthday yesterday, we also celebrated official ice out on Sawbill Lake! Bill claims that he’s only won the bet twice in his life, so he was very impressed it only took Kit two years.
The littlest outfitter contemplates a summer full of swimming.
Another ice out tradition is opening the “Beach Club”. Lucky early season crew members Jessica Hemmer, Luke Opel and Hannah Kennedy along with Dan and Huckleberry thoroughly enjoyed the 70 degree sunshine after the first swim of the season!
The melting ice separated the two dock pieces, the Forest Service is on their way to repair it!
5/6/18 – By this time tomorrow I predict we’ll be declaring the ice officially out on Sawbill Lake. Today, the southern portion of the lake was clear, but the portage to Alton and the narrows marking the Wilderness boundary were still unpassable. A stiff southern wind had pushed all the remaining ice north.
Looking north from the canoe landing.
Former crewmember Jesse Bergeson and his friend Mary stopped by this weekend for a visit on their way from Maryland to Montana. Along with Dan and Huckleberry the intrepid travelers hiked/bushwacked from the Sawbill Trail in to Wonder Lake (just south of Alton). They reported that there were some ice remnants floating around the southern portion of Wonder but that the northern side of the lake looked open.
Jesse and Mary proud to have made it to Wonder.
We’ll report back tomorrow, hopefully with good news!
5/4/18 – Today we welcomed our first customers of the season! Despite Sawbill Lake still holding onto 9 inches of rotten ice, Lake Superior College’s Boundary Waters class made the trip up for some time in the north woods. In anticipation of their arrival, the Sawbill Crew has been scouting area entry points for signs of open water and determined that Baker Lake would offer at least the opportunity to get on the water.
The two eager groups of mostly novice paddlers, launched onto the mostly open Baker Lake in hopes of finding more open water on Peterson and Kelly Lakes. The Temperance River drains down from the Temperance Lakes through Kelly, Peterson and Baker, so hopes were high that the moving water would provide some paddling lanes leading to Wilderness campsites.
Members of Lake Superior College’s Boundary Waters Class listen in on equipment orientations on the screen porch at Sawbill.
To add to the bustling day, we were visited by our friends at Souris River Canoes with 8 new Quetico 16’s to deliver. We are really excited to have the 16 back in our fleet after a few years hiatus. The 16′ canoe is a great option for two smaller people with minimal gear who want to travel light and fast. The 16′ is a breeze to portage and handle while on and off the water. Without a thwart behind the front seat, it can be paddled “backwards” as large solo or with a small child.
New Souris River Quetico 16’s in the canoe yard, fresh off the truck.
Luke measuring the ice on Sawbill Lake, May 4, 2018. He reports 9 inches of rotten ice and that he will not be walking out on the ice again this year.
5/2/18 – It was a busy day up here at the Wilderness edge. The snow has finally melted sufficiently for us to access our old canoe storage building and set up the canoes on their summer racks in the yard. Long time Sawbill customers will recognize our storage building as our former rental building, aka The Dome.
Kevlars in the Dome for winter storage.
Melting snow also means melting ice. Today’s measurement revealed 11 inches of hard ice with 3 inches of honeycombed ice on top of that. We also heard the season’s first loon call yesterday, they must be watching the ice conditions as anxiously as we are!
Huckleberry wonders if there’s enough open water to swim in yet.
4/30/18 – We woke up this morning to the welcome sound of a steady rain. It only lasted a few minutes, but combined with the ingredients of a humid morning, warm wind, and a sunny afternoon we are set with the perfect recipe for some serious ice melting. As of yesterday evening we measured 14.5″ porous and slushy ice with 8″ solid ice underneath. -Jessica
Yesterday we welcomed new crew member Hannah Kennedy. Hannah hails from St. Paul and recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a degree in Violin Performance. She’ll be living the good life at Sawbill this summer before heading to the University of Colorado Boulder for graduate school.This mornings view from the canoe landing.
4/27/18 – The ice is finally starting to make some noticeable progress! The most recent check measured 10″ of porous ice with 15″ of solid ice underneath. -Jessica
Ice measuring technician and longtime crew member Luke Opel drills the test hole. Luke will be around his spring and fall, but will be salmon fishing on the west coast over the summer. Who better to ask for fishing advice than a professional fisherman?The dock begins to emerge from its winter slumber.
Although we did receive 6″ of snow a few days ago, the forecast looks to be turning around with highs predicted in the upper 40s and 50s all week! Snow and ice, you’re going down.
Fun fact; according to newsletter posts the past 15 years, the earliest Sawbill ice out since 2003 was April 18, 2005, while the latest was May 14, 2014. Feel free to dig into our archives for more ice out information and a few good laughs.
Looking for something to occupy your time during this beautiful April blizzard? Search no more! Northstar Canoe would like help creating a new T-shirt design and prizes are involved. Follow this link to Northstar’s website for contest details. Happy designing!
Yesterdays Northstar canoe delivery and blue skies have us really thinking spring. Although we haven’t seen any change in the ice conditions, things can happen quickly once the melt begins.
-Jessica
Fresh out of the mold and off the truck. They even have that new canoe smell.
