Annika Novak
Hometown: Lake Elmo, MN
Favorite Route: Little Saganaga West Loop
Favorite Activities: Motorcycle rides, fishing with the crew, board games, and going to concerts
Favorite Sawbill Job: Campground manager and writing the newsletter
Damon Hennessey
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Favorite Route: Cherokee Loop
Favorite Activities: songwriting, home recording, fishing tinkering with motorcycles
Favorite Sawbill Job: Cleaning the Showers
Kay Franzese
Hometown: Monmouth Beach, NJ
Favorite Route: Kelso Loop
Favorite Activities: Reading, cooking, traveling, swimming, dancing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outfitting Manager
Lea Guttormson
Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI
Favorite Route: Cherokee Loop
Favorite Activities: Rowing and cooking
Favorite Sawbill Job: Transportation driver
Claire ‘CJ’ Morgan
Hometown: Apex, NC
Favorite Route: Lady Chain
Favorite Activities: Backpacking, reading, running, and swing dancing, soil judging
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outftting Desk
Megan Chopskie
Hometown: Cloquet, MN
Favorite Route: Lady Chain
Favorite Activities: Swimming, Mountain Biking, Reading
Favorite Sawbill Job: Washing canoes and Transportation driver
Sawyer “Gary” Amato
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Favorite Route: Little Saganaga West Loop
Favorite Activities: Fishing, Mountain Biking, Skiing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Stocking Pop, Beer, and Ice
Evelyn Asay
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Favorite Route: Lady Chain
Favorite Activities: Reading, canoeing, hammocking, traveling, drinking coffee
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outfitting Desk
Owen Liester
Hometown: Stillwater, MN
Favorite Route: Lady Chain
Favorite Activities: basketball, rock climbing, traveling, hiking, and paddling
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outfitting Desk
Isabelle Neve
Hometown: Maplewood, MN
Favorite Route: Little Saganaga West Loop
Favorite Activities: Traveling, being outside, and getting my hands in dirt!
Favorite Sawbill Job: Trip unpack and cooking
Owen “Jr” Wilcoxon
Hometown: White Bear Lake, MN
Favorite Route: Little Sag East Loops
Favorite Activities: Paddling and skiing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Outfitting Manager
Anna McDonald
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Favorite Route: Little Sag West Loop via Thomas, Alice and Fraser
Favorite Activities: Running, reading, yoga, hiking, and camping
Favorite Sawbill Job: Working in the Store and Outfitting
Jessica Hemmer
Hometown: St Cloud, MN
Favorite Route: Little Sag East to Little Sag West Loops
Favorite Activities: Paddling, listening to music, knitting
Favorite Sawbill Job: Trip Unpack
Sawyer Laird
Hometown: Lowell, MI
Favorite Route: Sag / Seagull Loop
Favorite Activities: canoeing, rockhounding, snowboarding, taking walks, and bird watching
Favorite Sawbill Job: Transportation driver, and special projects
Clare Shirley
Hometown: Tofte, MN
Favorite Route: Frost River Loop
Favorite Activities: Travel, reading, cooking, listening to podcasts
Favorite Sawbill Job: Answering phones
Dan Shirley
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
Favorite Route: Dent Lake Loop
Favorite Activities: Reading, travel, wood fired pizza, XC skiing
Favorite Sawbill Job: Problem solving
Bill Hansen
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Favorite Route: Lady Chain / Louse River Loop
Favorite Activities: Playing music, cross-country skiing, politics
Favorite Sawbill Job: Answering questions
Cindy Hansen
Hometown: Hovland, MN
Favorite Route: Little Saganaga Loop
Favorite Activities: Dancing, reading, hanging out with Kit and Sig
Favorite Sawbill Job: Logistics
Mary Alice Hansen
Hometown: Hutchinson, KS
Favorite Route:
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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
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Favorite Route:
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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.