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.
The first official ice measurement of the spring reports 15″ plus of hard packed snow (perfect for skiing not so much for ice melting), followed by 24″ of crystal clear solid ice. So far we’re off to a slow start with more cold weather in the forecast, but we’ll keep updating as things progress.
-Jessica
Dan inspects the snow depth and quality of ice before auguring the final few inches.These moose tracks leading across the lake show how deep the snow still is along the shoreline and in the woods.
The ice out countdown begins! We are still blanketed in a nice layer of snow and ice. Although temps remain quite chilly as of recent, the direct sun is slowly making a dent in the white stuff as we inch closer and closer to something that resembles spring. As always, stay tuned for periodic ice condition reports.
– Jessica
Yesterday’s satellite image over the Boundary Waters. Can you spot Sawbill Lake?
