Owen Willcoxon
Hometown: White Bear Lake, MN
Favorite Activities: Paddling and skiing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Transportation driver
Lauren Carlson
Little Saganaga West Loop via Alice, Thomas, and Fraser
Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN
Favorite Activities: Painting, hiking, swimming, and reading
Favorite Sawbill Job: Temperance River Campground Manager
Jessica Hemmer
Little Sag West Loop and Little Sag East Loop combined via Alice Lake
Hometown: St. Cloud, MN
Favorite Activities: Paddling, listening to music, knitting
Favorite Sawbill Job: Trip unpack
Brian Henry
Kelso Loop, at night
Hometown: Byron, MN
Favorite Activities: “Working” at Sawbill and time with my granddaughter
Favorite Sawbill Job: Renting canoes and fishing consultant
Anna McDonald
Little Saganaga West Loop via Alice, Thomas, and Fraser
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Favorite Activities: Running, reading, yoga, hiking, and camping
Favorite Sawbill Job: Working in the Store and Outfitting
Grant Timm
Crooked Lake to Lower Basswood
Hometown: Decorah, IA
Favorite Activities: fishing, skiing, buying camping gear, and lifting weights
Favorite Sawbill Job: Transportation Driver
Sawyer Laird
Big Sag/Seagull loop
Hometown: Lowell, MI
Favorite Activities: canoeing, rockhounding, snowboarding, taking walks, and bird watching
Favorite Sawbill Job: Transportation driver, and special projects
Evan Orjala
Brule and the Cone lakes to Davis
Hometown: Northfield, MN
Favorite Activities: Climbing, fishing, playing piano, and studying history
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outfitting and Transportation Driver
Isabelle Neve
Hometown: Maplewood, MN
Favorite Activities: Hanging out with friends and reading
Favorite Sawbill Job: Grocery Manager
Paul Ryda
BWCA circumnavigation
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Favorite Activities: Sewing, paddling, wild foraging
Favorite Sawbill Job: Canoe Repair
Victor Hart
Hometown: Washburn, WI
Favorite Activities: Canoeing, skiing, sunning, biking, and hunting
Favorite Sawbill Job: Special projects and working in outfitting
Luna Graham
Sawbill to Adams Lake (with a layover day: the most important part)
Hometown: Boulder, CO
Favorite Activities: Crafts, Hammocking, Reading, and Camping
Favorite Sawbill Job: Store and Outfitting
Corr Godfrey
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Favorite Activities: Crocheting and star gazing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Washing cookkits
Eli Kilgour
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Favorite Activities: Hiking, listening to music, sleeping, and gaming
Favorite Sawbill Job: Trash and Recycling
Feliks Vahtra
Island River into Isabella
Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Favorite Activities: Petting Huckleberry, Chile, and Atticus (and any other dog that comes around)
Favorite Sawbill Job: Canoe Washing
Dan Shirley
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
Favorite Activities: Travel, reading, making pizza, night swims, canoe trips with my kids
Favorite Sawbill Job: Repairing canoes, accounting, problem solving, project management
Clare Shirley
Hometown: Tofte, MN
Favorite Activities: Travel, reading, cooking, listening to podcasts
Favorite Sawbill Job: Answering phones
Cindy Hansen
Hometown: Hovland, MN
Favorite Activities: Dancing, reading, walking the dogs, mothering
Favorite Sawbill Job: Babysitting Kit & Sig
Bill Hansen
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Favorite Activities: Playing music, cross-country skiing, politics
Favorite Sawbill Job: Answering questions
Mary Alice Hansen
Hometown: Hutchinson, KS
Mary Alice is no longer with us, but her tenacious vision and spirit remain the backbone of Sawbill today. Mary Alice gave the world a gift in her work, Sawbill: History and Tales, where she chronicles the early days of Sawbill and the unique operations model that we use. Mary Alice was a true pioneer of canoe country outfitting.
Frank Hansen
Frank is no longer with us, but his presence still is strongly felt here at Sawbill. Frank and Mary Alice founded Sawbill Canoe Outfitters in 1957 and were largely responsible for the welcoming atmosphere that prevails to this day. Frank will always be a Sawbill crew member as he lives in our memory.