6/4/12 – With the great weather sticking around we have all been trying to spend more time outside. Yesterday Luke Opel and new crew member Crista Clark got a chance to get out for a paddle. It was the perfect day for it with a light breeze and a little cloud cover. On the trip they came across a large group of Canadian Swallowtail butterflies that probably had just emerged out of their chrysalis’. -Jessica

These swallowtails are participating in mud-puddling. By landing in wet soil they are able to replenish water and nutrients lost during emergence.

Crista standing at the Sawbill side of the Smoke portage surrounded by dragonflies and swallowtails. Both pictures were provided by resident Sawbill photo journalist Luke Opel.

5/31/12 – After some really dreary weather over the past few weeks we have finally had a break in the weather. Britta Dornfeld, a new crew member, and I went for a quick paddle around the Kelso loop today. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of a moose calf and cow spotted the day before on Sawbill. Although we did not see the moose we did find the legendary dolmen located near the north end of the Kelso River. The dolmen is a large rock perched upon three smaller rocks. A few theories exist as to how this rock formation came to be. Some of the most popular theories include; that it was placed there by Viking explorers, aliens, or by a glacier. However it got there it is an interesting sight to see. -Jessica

A view of the dolmen from the river.

A close up view showing the small rocks balancing the giant bolder.

5/31/12 – Forest Service Naturalist, Steve Robertson, sent us a link to a fascinating cache of historic photos published in a searchable database by the Forest History Society. I’ve found a number of pictures of the Sawbill Campground in the 1930s and several early photos from what later became the BWCA Wilderness. – Bill

Tourists at Sawbill Lake Campground. (This campsite is south of the current picnic area on the path between the canoe landing and the handicapped fishing pier. – Bill) U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Region photograph courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.

Camping by trailer at Sawbill Campground. Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Kremer, 8458 S. May St., Chicago. Negative Destroyed. Photo is in National Recreation Study and Report, 1937, page 57. (I think this site is in the current picnic area. – Bill) U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Region photograph courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.

Campground scene at the Sawbill Campground. Mrs. Henry G. White, and Mrs. Wm. Murray of Osakis. Photo is in National Recreation Study and Report, 1937, page 42. (This site was located just west of the current public parking lot. It was in occasional use until the 1980s. – Bill) U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Region photograph courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.

Road directional signs — instead of being scattered haphazardly around the junction, all are in one place. Junction of U.S. 61 and Sawbill #662. (I’ve never heard of Plouff Resort. Bill Plouff was a pioneer trapper and prospector. “Sawbill G. S.” refers to the Sawbill Guard Station, the cabin that still exists at the north end of the campground. – Bill) U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Region photograph courtesy of the Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.

5/26/12 – After a dryer than usual fall, winter, and spring everyone here at Sawbill has been wishing for a good soaking rain to quench the fire danger. This last week we got it! Water levels have risen substantially, allowing lakes and rivers to resemble their normal early spring melt selves. -Jessica

Two fisherman don’t mind getting their feet a little wet in their search for a prized walleye.

5/26/12 – Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

5/23/12 – Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night will stop our Wenonah delivery man from dropping off another batch of brand new canoes. Just minutes ago crew members Luke and Tyler finished helping unload 18 new canoes in the pouring rain. Lets just say they looked pretty soggy when they were done. -Jessica

This shot was before the rain really started.

5/18/12 – The last few days have brought clear skies, warm weather, and beautiful but busy ruby-throated hummingbirds to the northwoods. Yesterday two unsuspecting hummingbirds accidentally flew into the store and could not make an escape. Luckily a few of the fine crew members here at Sawbill Canoe Outfitters sprang into action and helped the little fellas out.

This little guy landed on a sock and sat perfectly still while Tyler carefully carried him out of the store.
Hummingbirds use so much energy during the day that if they maintained a constant body temperature they would starve. Luckily for them they are able to lower their core temperature up to 30 degrees at night in order to conserve energy. – Jessica

5/18/12 – This is a video application for an Outside Magazine grant for the trip of a lifetime, submitted by former Sawbill crew member Liz Foot, current crew member Luke Opel and lifetime crew member Carl Hansen.

Here are the last two installments of the Cook County West End News, May 17th and May 10th, from WTIP-FM, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

5/13/12 – The Sawbill crew boys continued their fishing day after work last night and brought home four nice walleyes, which we enjoyed for lunch today. Yum! – Bill

Photo by Luke Opel

5/12/12 – Today is the opening day of the Minnesota fishing season. I wouldn’t say that it is busy here, but there are more people around than we’ve been seeing in the last few weeks.
The unusual thing about this opening day is that it’s a beautiful day. Traditionally, the opening of fishing is wet, cold and windy. There is a bit of a breeze today but the temperature is in the high 60s and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.
Sawbill crew members, Luke, Tyler and Leif, hit the water early this morning and made their way to Smoke Lake. Luke caught one large smallmouth bass, which he released. No walleyes were enticed to nibble. Earlier in the week, Luke and Tyler tried their hand at brook trout fishing, but had no luck with that either. – Bill