10/7/12 – Here is this week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

10/5/12- Last night we received our first dusting of snow. It started snowing around 10 pm and is still blowing around this morning. – Anna

First snow accumulation of the year.

10/4/12 – Here is last week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio.

10/3/12 – We received several interesting notes and photos yesterday.
From Tofte resident, Tom Spence: One night – two walleye, one grouse, one full moon, northern lights. You sure know how to cater to the locals when they only have one day to head in!!

Photo by Tom Spence.

Photo by Tom Spence.
From Michiganers Jack and Debbie Cook: What an adventure we had! We saw the beauty of Cherokee Lake, hiked through the rugged portages between Town and Brule. On Weird Lake we watched two moose for 40 minutes. And perhaps best of all, we howled with the wolves on Smoke Lake. They were so close to us we could hear them walking in the brush and lapping water! It was great seeing you again, and thanks to your crew for all the help they provided. Sawbill is a very special place, and we can’t wait to return.

Photo by Jack and Debbie Cook.
From the U.S. Forest Service, Tofte Office: This photo (of the Emerald Lake Fire in Quetico Park, Canada) was taken Monday 10-1 around 4:00 by one of our Beaver flights. Looks like fewer and fewer smokes every day. Hopefully we will get this predicted weather change wed through sat. I understand there was smoke in the air on Monday up at the end of the Gunflint Trail. This lifted around noon when the winds picked up and changed direction to the NW.

The Emerald Lake Fire in Canada, winding down.

10/2/12 – Sarah, Anna and I went down to Grand Marais last night to make ceramic bowls to donate to the Empty Bowls Dinner and Silent Auction. Community members buy a bowl to fill with donated soup. Money donated goes to the local foodshelf. The dinner will be held on November 8th at the Art Colony in Grand Marais.
Here is a link if you would like to sign up or learn more about the event:
http://www.grandmaraisartcolony.org/event.cfm?eid=24
Each of us got to make three bowls. Two were made on a wheel and one was made using a form and pre-cut clay. The results were awesome considering our lack of prior experience. We also had a really fun time! – Crista

Sarah and Anna hard at work on their second wheel bowls.

Sarah, Anna and I sporting our finished form bowls,

10/1/12 – Daniel Walch sent along this lovely picture of a mink that he snapped recently. – Bill

I love the reflection of the mink and the fall colors.

9/30/12 – Crew member Luke’s family came up to Sawbill for a visit this weekend. His parents, Nancy and Craig Opel, and their granddaughter, Luke’s niece, Olivia Opel, are camping at Sawbill for two nights and plan to paddle around and marvel at the fall colors during the day. – Crista

Luke with Olivia, Nancy, and Craig Opel.

9/30/12 – Here at Sawbill, we are forced to find ways to entertain ourselves as the nights get longer and colder. Last night, we played two rousing games of Guesstures. Two teams of four flaunted imitation skills for points and ultimate bragging rights. – Crista

Bill suggesting something small and…confusing?

Myself ingeniously reiterating the word “cow” simply through movement.

Leif’s best attempt at the word “flag” resulting in utter silence from teammates.

9/29/12 – Here is last week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

9/28/12 –
PRESS RELEASE
Superior National Forest
September 27, 2012
Contact: Kris Reichenbach, 218-626-4393
Forest Service Lifts Campfire Restrictions in BWCAW and Re-opens Areas in Knife Lake Area
Due to cooling temperatures and shorter days, the Forest Service is lifting restrictions that previously limited the hours for campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Wilderness visitors may now use campfires, charcoal, and wood-burning camp stoves at all hours of the day.
Forest managers have also determined that it is safe to re-open the area inside the BWCAW along the Canadian border and around Knife Lake to public use. Reconnaissance of the Emerald Lake/Ft. Frances #59 wildfire indicated very little evidence of active fire behavior. The area inside the BWCAW was closed earlier this month while the fire was actively burning on the Canadian side. Fire crews will continue to monitor the fire area.
Dry, sunny weather is inviting visitors to the Forest to view fall colors and for early hunting season. Forest managers ask that everyone continues to be extra careful with all open fires as conditions are still dry in the woods.
For updates regarding conditions on the Superior National Forest, please check the Forest web site at: www.fs.usda.gov/superior .