12/31/15 – Here is this week’s edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. – Bill

Everybody’s favorite non-traditional Sawbill crew member, Brian Henry, made this sweet composite picture of every crew member who worked at Sawbill in 2015. The paddle was a gift to Brian from the crew to thank him for being his awesome self.

12/24/15 – Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News on WTIP, North Shore Community Radio.
The gorgeous winter continues here in northeastern Minnesota. – Bill

Looking down toward the Sawbill canoe landing.

An honest 12″ on the ground now. I should be able to groom and set tracks on the Sawbill cross country ski trail!

12/18/15 – If you need help getting into the holiday spirit, a drive up the Sawbill Trail will put you firmly in the mood. Not only do we have 9″ of fluffy, pristine snow on the ground, but it is loaded on the trees in true “winter wonderland” style. – Bill

The Sawbill Store is looking naturally festive!

Sawbill Lake looking south from the canoe landing.

12/3/15 – Who knew that Mrs. Claus lives at Sawbill and not at the North Pole?

Mrs. Claus, who was distributing candy and goodwill at the recent Grand Marais Christmas parade, bears a passing resemblance to our own Cindy Hansen.

While in the Christmas mood, Clare, Dan and Huckleberry pose for a preview of their Christmas card on the canoe landing at Sawbill.

Snow covers everything, including every little twig and needle, looking south from the Sawbill canoe landing.

11/22/15 – Sawbill lake has officially frozen over. After several days of rain we are happy to have a nice fresh layer of snow on the ground. Keep your fingers crossed for some good wild ice skating as the lake ice thickens up.

Huckleberry, one of Sawbill’s newest residents, is sad about the end of the swimming season but excited at the prospect of long runs on the ice.

Ice crystals make the newly solid lake shimmer.
-Clare

11/8/15 –

We’ve had some great northern lights recently. Sawbill crew member, Tyler Campbell, got this nice shot a few days ago.
Sawbill Lake isn’t frozen yet, but there was some skim ice in last night.
We rented a canoe today to a nice couple from Cincinnati, Ohio. They saw a bull moose on Kelso Lake. They had to break a little ice just before the Kelso/Sawbill portage. They are most likely the last rental customers of the 2015 season. – Bill

10/29/15 – It’s been a busy fall, but we are finally fully closed for the season. The parking lot has been empty all week, but four cars appeared last night and this morning, so a few people are braving the late-season wilderness. I hope they are being careful because it’s windy, raining and cold – not to mention very cold water temperatures.
Earlier this fall, crew member Brian Henry made this little photo montage of fall beauty. Now, just a few weeks later, the leaves are down and it is brown and grey forest until it is transformed by snow.
We had the first dusting of snow on the ground this morning, but it melted before I could get motivated to take a picture. – Bill

Photos by Brian Henry

10/13/15 – Martin Berst sent along this beautiful sunset picture on Kawishiwi Lake from his canoe trip last summer. – Bill

Photo by Martin Berst.

10/11/15 – This is the time of year when the crew has a little more spare time for fun. – Bill

Phoebe is campaigning to go on a canoe trip.

10/5/15 – The hard working Sawbill Fall crew went out for their traditional October bowling night at the Silver Bowl bowling alley in Silver Bay.
The good folks at the Silver Bowl are nice enough to stay open late to allow us to bowl ourselves silly after the Sawbill store closes for the night. – Bill

The bowling Sawbill Fall crew of 2015.

Our friendly hosts at the Silver Bowl.

Brian shows the proper technique for the perfect gutter ball.

Buck shows that he, unlike the rest of us, actually knows how to bowl.

Bill and Cindy attempt to simultaneously pick up nearly identical spares.