2/4/08 – Every year the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon passes through our area. The Sawbill Trail checkpoint is 18 miles south of us and is an important way-point in the race. Dog teams stop to rest and eat, tired mushers get a little sleep and hundreds of spectators take it all in. As part of this year’s press coverage the Duluth News Tribune published pictures from the past twenty years, including the shot below of Cindy Hansen, who ran the Sawbill checkpoint for a couple of years back in the ’80s. Thanks to Mary Black from Hovland for spotting the picture and calling it to our attention. – Bill

Cindy Hansen surveys the facilities at the Sawbill checkpoint back in the ’80s.

1/30/08 – The weather has taken a dramatic turn here at Sawbill. The night before last, it was 34 degrees and raining hard. Due to the ground being very cold, the rain froze into a solid sheet of ice on the roads and paths. Yesterday the temperature plunged all day long and last night hit -22 degrees with 35 mph winds. I stood next to a healthy, hundred year old red pine last night and I could hear small cracking noises in the trunk. – Bill

The fast temperature drop, combined with high winds, is literally snapping branches off of trees. This large white pine branch landed on the store roof.

The big white pine next to the store is one branch lighter.

The birds are feeding frantically – trying to keep warm.

1/26/08 – Sawbill has a new dog. Roy Wonder is an Avon Terrier, just like Phoebe and the late Izzy. Cindy learned that the breeder was closing her business, so it was now or never for a new puppy from her favorite kennel.

Phoebe and Roy are becoming fast friends. Phoebe is teaching him good behavior and advanced outfitter security techniques.

Homer, Roy and Phoebe hold a meeting on Sawbill Lake.

The outfitter security team patrols for squirrels, pine martens and other threats.

1/13/08 – Today we had the great pleasure and honor of attending Cindy Hansen’s great aunt Millie Mainella’s 100th birthday celebration. She is a remarkable woman who still lives independently, just got her driver’s license renewed and keeps up on world affairs. Millie was a life long accordion player along with her older brother Clarence. Our own Clare Hansen is named after Clarence, who is her great grandfather. Clare, who inherited the love of the accordion from Clarence and Millie, played some favorite tunes during today’s celebration.

Clare and Carl Hansen with their great, great aunt Millie Mainella at her 100th birthday celebration today in Grand Marais.

Clare provides accordion entertainment.

Today was also remarkable for the freak snowstorm in the Tofte, Lutsen, Grand Marais area over the last 24 hours. We got nearly a foot here at Sawbill. Grand Marais received about two feet and just a few miles east of Grand Marais nearly 34″ fell. Here is a view from the Sawbill Trail of the beautiful Temperance River valley filled with snow covered trees.

1/2/08 – We had our traditional open house over the New Year’s holiday. Former crew, current crew, and friends spent several fun filled days together. It was a busy time of skiing, snowboarding, sliding, board games, saunas, and dancing. That’s not to mention excellent food, drink and company. Thanks to Molly Breslin for snapshots of a few highlights. – Bill

Caitlin, Belinda, Chrissy, Matt, Nat, Pat, Tess and Claire watch Pat 4 start a run …

… which comes to an abrupt end.

Alison reacts to the action.

Nathan, Carl and Clare sliding wildly.

Adam goes for speed. You know it’s fun sliding when someone wears a helmet and goggles …

… especially when he ends up in the ditch.

Pat gets some air time.

Belinda heads over the precipice.

Tess, showing style and grace.

Manwich (aka Matt) offers coaching and hill maintenance tips.

Clare, Carl, Adam and Nathan are a disaster looking for a place to happen.

Even though sliding chaos was going on just a short distance away, a lone rabbit left his tracks on the campground trail along the lake shore.

That night we all headed down to the Gunflint Tavern to welcome the new year while dancing to the Splinters.

The dance floor is packed as the Splinters rock in the new year!

12/28/07 – Tom (Hawk) Jensen sent this old photo the other day. Hawk was on the Sawbill crew in the early 70s and camped on the campground with his family for many years before that. He has continued to canoe in or near the BWCA Wilderness since he worked here, first with his kids and now with his grandkids. Thanks Hawk! – Bill

From left to right (according to my best memory): Bill Hansen at age 12, the dachshund is Liebchen – an early Sawbill dog, Karl Hansen at age 17, Mary Alice Hansen, Frank Hansen smoking a pipe(!). The year is probably 1965. The campsite is on north Sawbill Lake and is called “picnic rock”. At the time, it was a popular campsite, but was closed because there was no place to dig an adequate privy. It didn’t have a tent site either, which is why the old canvas tent is pitched with “poles”. It is still a popular picnic spot today. This picture was taken for a long defunct magazine called “Voyageur”. This particular shot was sold to the State of Minnesota tourism agency and was used in many publications.

12/21/07 –
This fellow appeared outside our window this afternoon. I think he is joining us for the holidays!

According to Clare Hansen and her cousin Anna Hutchinson, his name is Gordon.

12/17/07 – As you can tell from the lack of entries here, we’ve been very busy. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the time when we can devote ourselves to some activities other than the business. In Hansen family news: Cindy, Adam and Carl visited Clare at the U of Montana in Missoula. Carl was making his official campus visit prior to making application there. I’ve traveled recently to Las Vegas and Miami in connection with a couple of the non-profits that I’m involved with. Talk about culture shock! We’re all back at Sawbill now for awhile, so the updates will be flowing faster. – Bill

Clare, Adam and Carl Hansen high above Missoula, Montana.

Carl Hansen blows out candles on his 18th birthday!

We have about 18″ of snow on the ground, as you can see from this shot of the picnic table in front of the Sawbill Store!

11/28/07 – “It may come on some quiet day in November with a hush so deep and so profound it seems to press on everything. All living creatures feel it. They watch the skies and wait. Suddenly the air is white with drifting flakes and tension drains as the ground is speckled with white. The first crystals rustle as they settle onto leaves and into crevices, and then almost magically the earth is white and winter has come.” – Sigurd Olson


Sawbill has been blanketed in 7″ of light, powdery snow over the past two days. My skis are anxious to get waxed-up, even though it’s disappointing to hang up the ice skates for another year.

Chickadees struggle to keep warm. Cindy keeps ’em well fed, though.

11/22/07 – Happy Thanksgiving. Here is what I’m thankful for…

Sawbill Lake at 9:30 am and 12 degrees.

4″ thick and solid.

Wilderness ice!

Stop at the Alton Portage.

Alton Lake was open!

I am thankful for wild ice.