5/19/15 – Hopefully, this is the last picture of snow this season! It’s only fun because the forecast is very good for the rest of the week and most of the Memorial Day weekend. – Bill

This looks like a typical summer sunrise picture of the Sawbill Store until you notice the snow on the roof and picnic table.

It’s hard to get motivated to wash snow covered canoes.

5/15/15 – Listen to this interview with Dr. Frank Ferraro about the effect of wilderness on the brain from the WTIP-FM North Shore Community Radio show, “The Roadhouse.” Ferraro’s research may lead to your doctor writing you a prescription for a canoe trip! – Bill
Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP.

Listen to the West End News to find out why Sawbill friend, Jenna Wagner, is sporting a surgical gown.

5/13/15 – Long time Sawbill customer, Frank Ferraro, is a psychology professor at Nebraska Wesleyan University. In recent years, he has conducted experiments on the effect of wilderness on the human brain.
Recently, Dr. Ferraro was interviewed on WTIP-FM, North Shore Community Radio show, “The Road House.” His research and the findings seem to confirm what many people feel intuitively about the benefit of wilderness on the human psyche. – Bill

5/12/15 – It is normal to have a day of two of snow in May up here in the north woods. This morning we woke up to a lovely coating of snow on the trees and the canoes. We love it, especially because tomorrow’s forecast is warm and sunny. – Bill


The Wenonah canoes were a little heavy this morning. Within a few hours, they’ll be back to their lightweight selves.

5/8/15 – Tune in to WTIP-FM tonight at 5:20 pm to hear psychology professor Frank Ferraro talk about his research that suggests that people experience a significant boost in creativity during and immediately after a wilderness canoe trip.
Frank is a longtime Sawbill customer and co-leader of a college class from Nebraskan Wesleyan University called “The Necessity of Wilderness” that outfits through Sawbill Canoe Outfitters.
I believe that almost everyone who travels for more than a few days in a wilderness setting feels a change in their thinking and attitude, but it’s always nice to have data to back up your intuition.
You can listen to WTIP by clicking this link or go to WTIP.org. I will post a link to the archived interview when it’s available. – Bill

5/7/15 – I had to drive over to Ely a couple of days ago to pick up some freight. On the way home I encountered this little bear eating grass alongside the road. It was so absorbed, that it didn’t hear the truck coasting to a stop. Once Roy started barking though, it beat a hasty retreat. – Bill

Mamunur Adib and his friends sent along this charming video of their first ever BWCA Wilderness canoe trip last Memorial Day weekend. They had such a good time, they are already planning this year’s trip.

5/2/15 – Our talented friend, Tom Spence, was among the first overnight canoeists out of Sawbill this season. He tried to paddle out on the day before the ice went out, but didn’t get very far. He returned on the second day after ice out and spent a couple of nights camping on the north end of Sawbill Lake. – Bill

Photo by Tom Spence.

Photo by Tom Spence.


Photo by Tom Spence.

4/30/15 – The first paddle of the season. – Bill

Blue sky, blue water, high spirits.
Here are the last two editions of the Cook County West End News from WTIP-FM, North Shore Community Radio:
April 30th, 2015
April 23rd, 2015

4/29/15 – By 5 pm last night, all trace of ice had disappeared from Sawbill Lake. Minutes later, the first car with a canoe on top rolled in. The wilderness canoeing season is under way! – Bill

Sawbill Lake is ready for canoes.

4/28/15 – As of noon today, Sawbill Lake is more than 90% ice-free, which is the official criteria for ice-out. By sunset, it should be completely clear except for a few small remnants.
April 28th is very close to the average ice-out date for Sawbill Lake. In the past, the average ice-out date was May 1st, but in the last 25 years it’s been getting a little earlier. – Bill

The picture is a little deceiving, but in-person, it’s clear that the ice is more than 90% gone.