6/16/07 – The sun has been shining here at Sawbill this week. With temperatures in the eighties for a few days the lake has been drawing customers and crewmembers alike in for a swim (or two or three.) The fireflies are also out in force once it gets dark, making a nightly trip to the outhouse a little more enjoyable.

Solo fishing on Sawbill.
A wildflower update: the early spring flowers have faded now to make room for the summer blooms. The low-growing white Bunchberries and yellow Clintonia can’t be missed along all the roads and foot paths. The small and fragrant Twinflowers are also recently out as well as the pink Pasture Roses. As you drive up the Sawbill Trail, you will also notice purple and pink Lupins along the way. – Caitlin

6/15/07 – For the last 15 years, Dave Freeman has been warmly connected with Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. He was a full fledged crew member for a number of years. In recent years, he’s been providing expert guiding services here at Sawbill.
Several years ago, Dave and former Sawbill crew member Eric Frost founded Wilderness Classroom, an educational non-profit that connects kids to wilderness through the use of innovative technology. Regular readers of this newsletter are very familiar with Wilderness Classroom’s expeditions, including the recently completed Wilderness Classroom Trans-Amazon Expedition.
Now, Dave has been nominated for the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame. He was surprised at the Duluth Airport last week by the Energizer bunny, some friends in bunny ears, and the local press and television.

Dave is surprised on his return home after his latest Wilderness Classroom expedition.
So here is where you come in. Dave is one of ten finalists for the Keep Going Award and the winner is determined by the voting public. If Dave wins, Wilderness Classroom gets a significant cash award to continue their good work connecting children to wilderness. Please vote for Dave at the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame website.
Thanks! – Bill

6/6/07 – As of this morning, the fire ban in the BWCA Wilderness has been lifted. Fires are allowed in the fire grates at the campsites any time. Of course, as always, fires should be drowned dead out before they are left alone.

6/5/07 – While these photos show nothing of the bustling activity of Sawbill as we head into summer, they do suggest the wonder of the wilderness that so many come looking for here. – Caitlin

Heading into summer.

The dainty Starflower is unusual in the plant family because it often appears with the uncommon pattern of 7 petals and 7 leaves. As you can see though, they occasionally will have 6 or 8 petals or leaves.

A spring storm rolls in over Sawbill.

6/3/07 – Sawbill was overrun yesterday by the extended local Sawbill family of former crew members and their kids (future crew members to be sure!). Everyone made the trek up the trail to help out around here and enjoy the spring weather for the day.
Our little future crew members proved themselves exceptionally capable loading trash and recycling, filling ice bags, trimming down our overflowing stock of ice cream treats and catching a very fish-like stick or two in the lake.
And their parents showed that they haven’t lost their touch a bit. At the end of the day the cash registers were only off by $1.39! Thank you so much to every last one of you! The Sawbill family is one of a kind. – Caitlin

Karen, Cloe and Hazel go for a paddle.

Steve and Tristan sweat up a storm lugging trash and recycling. Actually Steve carried refreshments while Tristan pulled the cart. Tristan appears unhappy about this labor distribution.

Karen Blackburn instructs her son, David, in the time honored tradition of bagging ice.

Young Sawbillians taking a breather in the lake after a hard day at work.

Cloe Blackburn, Hazel Oberholtzer, David Blackburn, Will Surbaugh, Tristan Surbaugh and Cy Oberholtzer on lunch break. Francis Surbaugh not pictured here (not quite ready for the big kids table).

5/30/07 – We were notified today that campfires are now allowed inside the BWCA between 7pm-midnight. So remember to pack your marshmallows and hot dogs!
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies also came out today in mass. Male Swallowtails emerge before the females and congregate near moisture and nutrients. They need to replenish the fluids they lost during emergence. These large gatherings also make it easier for the females to find them once they emerge. I found this large group down by the lakeshore, but there were also lots of them hanging out at the mud puddles along the Sawbill trail.
Today I also spotted a Mourning Cloak butterfly fanning in the sun by the lake. Unfortunately, my picture of it didn’t turn out. The Mourning Cloak is one of the earliest butterflies to be seen each year. They also are the longest living at ten to eleven months. – Caitlin

5/25/07 – With the rain we have gotten over the last few days the spring blossoms have decided to show themselves. Yesterday I took a walk around Sawbill with Mary Alice Hansen to try to soak up some of her knowledge of the flowers and plants around here. Mary Alice started Sawbill with her husband Frank in 1957 so there was quite a bit of soaking to do on my part. In addition to the specimens pictured below we also identified Marsh Marigolds (also known as Cowslip), Pin Cherries and Clintonia. – Caitlin

These fragile blossoms will eventually turn into wild blueberries.

Laurel.

Yellow violets.

This recognizable flower promises wild strawberries this summer.

5/24/07 – The fire ban outside the BWCA Wilderness has been lifted. Fires are allowed in the campground, as long as they are in the fire grates provided at the campsite. Inside the BWCA Wilderness fires are still banned.
It is raining as I write this. If it keeps up, maybe the wilderness fire ban will be lifted too. We’ll post the news here as soon as we hear anything. – Bill

5/23/07 – With many of the nearby entry points reopened, including Sawbill
Lake, things are getting busier around here. Fortunately, our crew ranks have been fortified by the recent arrivals of Clare Hansen, Katie Nulicek and Davey Bodeau! – Caitlin

A long-time crew expert, Clare has returned to Sawbill after completing her sophomore year at the University of Montana.

During her first week as a new Sawbill crewmember Katie honed her canoe washing skills. Katie will be a senior art major next year at Northern Illinois University.

Davey spent his first day back drying out the fire prevention hoses up on the roof. Davey returns to the Sawbill crew this summer after his freshmen year at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

5/22/07 – Mike Valentini, a friend of Bill and Cindy’s, shot this stunning image of a moose taking stock of the Ham Lake fire’s aftermath on his property near Seagull river, which feeds into Big Saganaga. Fortunately, Mike’s cabin survived the fire. Thanks for the photo Mike! – Caitlin
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Moose near Seagull river. Photo courtesy of Mike Valentini.