8/17/21 – Communications during wildfire season can be challenging. There are many stakeholders to inform, fires are dynamic, and the situation is always changing. We are very lucky here in Cook County to have good working relationships between agencies, and are additionally privileged to have an exceptional local radio station. WTIP (90.7) has been staying up to date on fire conditions in the area, with a number of key interviews providing insight.

This morning WTIP interviewed the Tofte District Ranger Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak. Click here to listen to her update on the fires in our area.

We are expecting to receive an order closing the Louse River route today. We will post details when we know what the exact boundaries of the closure are. It is important to note that these closures are done in an abundance of caution. The Louse River is not currently burning. Because of the difficulty of that route and the limited exit options, closing the area is the prudent thing to do. A Forest Service wilderness crew is currently sweeping the route to inform any campers in the area.

The Greenwood fire, near Isabella, continues to make headlines as it grows quickly. None of the closures or evacuations from this fire are in our immediate area.

I highly recommend listening to the WTIP story linked above. It is a succinct and clear description of the situation as it stands this morning. If you are so inclined, you can donate to our small local radio station here. This valuable local resource is certainly worth the support, in my opinion!

Clare

8/16/21 – It’s been some time since we had any fire news to report in this area, which was nice while it lasted. As of this morning, there are two fires now burning in the Tofte Ranger District (more details on those fires below). Of note, there are no closures in our area at this time, and there is no imminent threat to anyone canoe tripping in our area. It is hard to overstate how dry things are up here though, and the reality is that there is quite a bit of fire season still ahead of us this summer and fall. If you are in the BWCA and a closure is issued for the area you are in, Wilderness Rangers will paddle through and contact you.

At this time, we are recommending that folks avoid doing the Louse River route. The Whelp Fire (details below) has the potential to grow into that area, and given the low water conditions travel is very difficult along that route, making re-routes and possible evacuations difficult.

The following updates are from the Forest Service as of the evening of August 15th:

John Elk Fire: Detected late on August 14, the John Elk Fire was started with a lightning strike. It is in a remote area 2.5 miles south of Little Saganaga Lake in the Wilderness on the Tofte Ranger District. No fire-fighting crews have been sent in due to difficult access, limited helicopter resources and safety concerns. A helicopter with water drops is being used to knock down flames and limit the spread. It is currently two-acres. On August 15th, a 2 person wilderness ranger crew paddled in from Little Sag to make contact with BWCAW permittees to inform them on the Joh Elk Fire, and update them on fire conditions.

Whelp Fire: The Whelp Fire is another lightning-caused fire that was detected late on August 14th. It is four miles west/northwest of Sawbill Lake. Similar to the John Elk Fire, this fire is in a remote area of the Wilderness on the Tofte Ranger District. No fire-fighting crews have been sent in due to difficult access, limited helicopter resources and safety concerns. Aircraft will perform water drops to suppress this fire as we continue to gather information. On August 16th, a 2-person wilderness ranger crew will paddle the Louse River to contact permittees near the Whelp Fire. It is currently five-acres.

The other big fire making the news right now is, thankfully, further away from us. The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15th near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. It is approximately 15 miles SW of Isabella (the town.) The fire is moving very quickly due to strong gusts of wind and dry vegetation and is estimated to be several hundred acres. Fire crews are suppressing the fire on the ground and from the air. The McDougal Recreation Area is closed, including the McDougal Lake Campground.

We’ll keep you posted on any updates as we receive them.

-Clare

8/13/21 – Mid August is prime time for watching the night sky, with the Perseid meteor shower as the main attraction.  The past couple nights have been mostly clear leaving us no choice but to get out and take advantage of the light show.  According to NASA, these meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus in the north, although they actually originate from leftover debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle burning up in our atmosphere.  In fifteen minutes last night, we seen at least a handful of meteors (also known as shooting stars) making it well worth the late night out. -Jessica

Last year the Boundary Waters was designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by the International Dark Sky Association. According to a 2016 National Geographic article, only 20% of Americans can now see the Milky Way as a result of light pollution.

8/11/21 – As late summer quickly approaches, many changes are happening with the flora around Sawbill. One of these changes is a shift in which wildflowers are blooming. Late spring and early summer bring spring ephemerals — small, delicate flowers that typically bloom close to the forest floor. As the summer progresses, taller flowers, ferns, and other undergrowth shade these small plants. Late summer wildflowers are typically taller and showier than early summer flowers. They often bloom on long, sturdy stalks, with a cluster of many flowers together on the same stem.

Even though the peak wildflower season (June to early July) has passed, there are still many flowers blooming around Sawbill and on the edges of the Sawbill trail. The most common bloom right now is the large leaf aster, which produces clusters of light purple flowers with yellow or brown centers. The large leaf aster is a common plant in Northern Minnesota, with large, fuzzy, heart shaped leaves carpeting the forest floor. Although many people are familiar with these common leaves, they often don’t realize that the lavender flowers come from the same plant.

Other common flowers around Sawbill are common yarrow (white flower clusters with feathery leaves), fireweed (tall spikes of pink flowers), goldenrod (fluffy spikes of yellow flowers), and creeping bellflower (many purple bell-shaped flowers on a tall stalk). Other blooms include black-eyed Susan, ox-eye daisies, and Joe Pye weed. While some plants are still blooming, others have already started producing fruits. These include bunchberries (a cluster of red berries in the middle of four to six leaves), raspberries and blueberries.

-Robin

8/9/21 – Although the low water in the Boundary Waters can make canoeing rivers and streams difficult, it’s not the only hinderance. Beaver dams also pose a significant challenge. However, they are a crucial part of the ecosystem, and, although difficult to get over, they raise the water level of the stream to a canoeable level. Without them, many streams would be impassable. Damaged beaver dams can contribute to low water levels above the beaver dam, exacerbating the already low water due to the current drought in Northern Minnesota. There are many natural factors that contribute to dam breakage and failure, but there are a couple tips and tricks we can follow to minimize our impact.

Beaver dams fail when too much water runs over them. This is often caused when the rim of the dam is broken or pushed down, causing water to flow at a higher rate through one point instead of evenly along the rim. The prevent this, avoid the temptation to cross the dam at a point that is already low. Instead, try to either to over a higher place with a substantial amount of plant matter, as the root masses bind the sticks and mud together. If the dam doesn’t have an area like this, you can place a large stick or log parallel to the rim of the dam to step on and move the canoe over. This evenly distributes weight over a greater area of the dam.

You can then pull the canoe over the dam, usually with a person standing on either side of the gunwales and moving the canoe across. Often, it’s possible to leave gear in the boat while moving it over the dam. However, you don’t want too much weight in the canoe. Therefore, everyone should step out of the canoe at the dam. It’s often most stable to step above the dam, though avoid stepping on the rim and causing a low spot where water can flow through.

Lastly, if planning a trip in an area with many dams and/or low water, try to pack lightly and wear proper footwear. Good footwear often includes close toed shoes that drain easily and you’re okay with getting muddy. This could include close-toed sandals such as keens, water shoes, or an old pair of tennis shoes. Overall, embrace the challenge, and try to appreciate the beaver dams for what they do — raise the water level up high enough so that our beloved streams are navigable.

-Robin

8/6/2021- Jerry Vandiver, an award-winning songwriter, musician, and longtime Sawbill enthusiast from Nashville, Tennessee, is up visiting Sawbill and the surrounding area. On August 4th, he played a small concert for the Sawbill crew — practicing his lineup of north country songs that he will be playing for our local radio station, WTIP on August 13 at 5:30 pm (tune in at wtip.org!) Due to the fire ban, the crew gathered around LED lights and battery-operated candles, and although it wasn’t the same as a real campfire, it had the same feel as a campfire gathering — with the added bonus of not having to constantly shift to avoid the smoke! Some of the crew’s favorite songs were “Too Many Boats” and “Not Enough to Bail.” Like many songwriters and artists, Jerry told the stories behind his songs, and it was enlightening for the crew to hear some of the behind-the-scenes workings of the music industry. The stories were followed by questions and laughs, leading to an overall fun night.

However, Jerry isn’t just here in Minnesota to entertain the Sawbill crew. Throughout August, during the times when he’s not playing music, Jerry will be taking trips throughout the BWCA. He has already completed the Cherokee Loop, and like many others, has reported the low water level in Cherokee Creek. He left again today for the wilderness, so if you see a solo paddler somewhere in the Sawbill region, singing and pretending to strum a guitar, you may have met the award-winning musician Jerry Vandiver.

-Robin

8/2/21 Heyo!

Today two groups from Northwaters and Langskid canoe camp (NWL camp for short), located in Temagami, Ontario came into Sawbill. They were on day 10 of a 20 day excursion into the BWCA. Between the two groups, there were 2 leaders and 15 kids ranging from ages 14-19. The two leaders, Garret (21) and Takoma (24) have both gone on many trips into the BWCA but many of the younger campers were fairly new to the experience. The campers came from all over the US, ranging from California to Tennessee! They all got into the NWL wilderness program through family and friends recommending the summer camp. Both groups started at Seagull lake and made their way down to Sawbill. The first portage that the groups did was the 500 rod portage from Seagull to Paulsen, and for many of the members, this was their first portage ever! The group leaders said that the kids are all doing fantastic out there in the wild, and overcoming all sorts of physical and mental challenges involved with camping. The groups are splitting up today, with Garret’s group heading towards Fowl lake and Takoma’s group heading towards Mcfarland lake. With high spirits and big smiles, the group set off from Sawbill to head back towards home at around noon today!

-Ben

8/1/21 – Heyo!

We have been getting lots of questions about air quality and water levels up here recently. With the camping season coming into full swing, lots of people are worried about very common routes such as the Lady Chain or the Cherokee loop being too low to pass. Currently, both of these routes are still passable but there will be times where you have to get out of your canoe and walk it through some shallow, rocky areas. Below I have more detailed descriptions of problem areas on each of these routes.

Cherokee Loop – The stretch from Ada creek all the way up into Cherokee lake is fairly low right now. When in Ada creek, make sure to take portages when you see them and be wary of rocks in the water. Cherokee creek is extremely low right now, so there are many spots where people will need to get out of the canoe and walk it through the creek. The bottom of the creek is mud, so when walking the canoe you may be knee-deep in muddy water. This is the only problem section of the Cherokee loop, the rest is easy sailing!

Lady Chain – The channels in and out of Knight lake are extremely low right now. People are reporting that it takes about an extra hour or two to navigate this area because of the amount of getting in and out of the canoe. Below is an image of the area West of Knight lake.

Hog Creek – The Hog creek entry point is very low right now. The whole area is taking about twice as long as average to navigate.

Air Quality – The air quality varies day by day, but recently it has been very good! Most of the smoke and haze has cleared from the Sawbill area, so the sky is bright and blue again. Below is an image of the smoke plume map found at airnow.gov.

-Ben

7/31/21 – As we slide into August in the northwoods, we are happy to report that the Beth Lake fire has been designated as “out” by the Forest Service. A quick response from firefighters and some key water drops from the helicopter resulted in little to no disruption to travel in the area. While two new small fires were detected in the BWCA yesterday, there remains no threat to the Sawbill area from any existing fires.

The drought has further reaching effects than just fire danger. A late season frost and the lack of rain has resulted in a very poor berry crop. The lack of natural foods has driven wildlife to seek food sources wherever they can. That, and the number of well-intentioned but un-informed campers bringing inappropriate food storage containers (think coolers) in the BWCA has resulted in some increased bear encounters. We have had very few reports of bears in the Sawbill area this season (only one instance of a bear getting into an unattended cooler on Pipe Lake), but other parts of the Wilderness are now dealing with “problem” bears who have been rewarded by easily stealing people food and are now seeking it out. As a result, there is now a food storage order issued by the Forest Service for the entire Superior National Forest, including the BWCAW.

The order states that visitors in the Forest must secure their food in one of two ways:

1. Using a bear canister or bear-resistant container and securing it at least 50 feet away from your tent; or
2. Hanging your food pack at least 12 feet above the ground, and six feet horizontally from an pole or limb, and four feet vertically from any pole or limb.

While these are always the best practices, the fact that it is now an order means you can be ticketed and fined for not following these protocols. Leaving a cooler sitting out on your picnic table, even while you’re sitting nearby in your screen tent, could result in a ticket. If you are car camping, you should plan to store all your food in your hard-sided vehicle when you aren’t actively eating or cooking. Other ways to help avoid an unwanted bear encounter are to keep a clean campsite, make sure there are no fragrant foods spilled on the ground, keep your food condensed and packed in one place and secured whenever you aren’t using it, and clean and dispose of fish remains well away from your campsite. If you are camping in the Boundary Waters, DO NOT bring in a cooler. They are impossible to properly secure and very enticing for bears.

Here at Sawbill we secure our dumpsters at 9pm every night, and reopen them at 7am. This way, when we aren’t actively monitoring them overnight, the bears can’t help themselves to a smorgasbord of trash. Plan to dump your trash before 9pm, or keep it in your car until the next morning! Thanks to the diligence of our crew and visitors, we are glad to report no bear issues at Sawbill this season, but we’ll have to continue working together to keep it that way.

-Clare

7/28/21 – On July 26th the Forest Service detected a small wildfire near the portage between Beth and Grace lakes, about 3 miles to the southwest of Sawbill. Over the last couple of days they sent in a crew of 4 firefighters, conducted aerial surveys of the fire, and utilized aircraft for water drops. They are describing the fire as smoldering in hardwood litter, and it has been kept to roughly 2 acres in size. As of this morning, we are glad to report that it is 40% contained. Weather conditions have been in our favor, with another .15″ of rain falling last night, and cool mornings, calm winds, and overcast humid days.

There are no closures or reroutes in the Sawbill area at this time. The portage between Beth and Grace is still open, and recent paddlers have reported no evidence of the fire, other than the occasional aircraft overhead.

Travelling in the BWCA during wildfire season requires an extra level of awareness. If you are camped or travelling through an area that comes under threat of a wildfire, the Forest Service Wilderness rangers will sweep through the area and contact you, showing you the safest route by which to exit. It is a good practice to carry maps on your trip that cover the area around your route, just in case your travel plans have to change.

We’ll be sure to update this newsletter as we get more information about any fires in the area. At this point we are feeling grateful for the quick response from the Forest Service and will keep crossing fingers and toes for a good solid downpour.

-Clare