Last week I made my way from Chicago to northern Minnesota for my fall work season at Sawbill. Instead of busting out the drive in one long day I added a few days to see the Iron Range region of the state. 

My intent was to hammock camp somewhere between Duluth and Hibbing but with storms coming in I holed up in a hotel outside Duluth. Next morning I had some mediocre hotel coffee and made the trip up 53 towards Hibbing. Minutes after rolling into town I found myself parked in front of Bob Dylan’s home from 1948-1959. In 1958, in the midst of a particularly brutal winter, Bob and a friend travelled from Hibbing to Duluth to see the Winter Dance Party tour at the Armory. Dylan famously talks about the impact of seeing Buddy Holly and making direct eye contact with him while Holly was on stage. Three days later Holly, along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper would die in a plane crash outside of Clear Lake Iowa. (A few years winters ago I made a trip to the crash site. It was a bitter February day, just like the day of the crash,  and when I visited it felt like the loneliest place on earth)

As I stood in front of Dylan’s former home I was struck by the idea that someone who had such an impact on music and culture could come from such an out of the way place. I also wondered what that drive home from Duluth was like that night after seeing Buddy Holly. It’s a lonely stretch of road now, one can only imagine what it was like in the dead of winter in 1958. Two dazed small town kids trying to stay warm and keep from sliding into the ditch while they tried to process what they’d just seen. 

I left the car, took my my bike of its rack and peddled around town for an hour or so. Hibbing has some amazing old housing stock, some beautiful buildings and a least one good coffee shop. 

On my way out of town I stopped at the Hull Rust Mine overlook and information center. I’d never seen a real open mine before and was amazed at the size of the operation. That mine alone, one of many, sends 400 railroad cars a day of raw materials down the line for processing. 

Next up on the driving tour was the town of Chisholm. I stopped by a sadly outdated mining museum there, slow rolled through town and headed to Eveleth.

I’m a hockey fan so I made a quick trip to the American Hockey Hall of Fame, (also a bit outdated) then did a pass through town where I stopped to take some pics of downtown’s  many neon bar signs. 

Next up was Virginia, slightly bigger than Eveleth and Chisholm, but a bit rougher around the edges than Hibbing. There are some amazing downtown building facades and another fantastic display of neon tavern signs. 

I’m guessing most folks that make their way north to paddle don’t make a side trip to the Iron Range. This region has as rich history and played a crucial role in helping to build a nation. Mining is certainly a hot button issue in this state, and I think my brief tour of these towns made me appreciate the area and understand the issues a bit more. 

D-Dawg

08-21-26

8/20/26 – If you happened to be near the Boundary Waters Wednesday night of last week, then you might have seen more shooting stars streak across the sky than usual. The annual meteor shower named the Perseids occurs in mid-August where 50 to 100 meteors can be seen per hour, so, naturally, the Sawbill Crew had to do some stargazing. 

The night of August 12th was perfect. The Perseids were at the peak of visibility and it also happened to be the night of a new moon, making room for the stars to shine even brighter. The weather was ideal too. The crew walked down to the landing in shorts and sweatshirts and joined a group of customers who had already set up their seats for viewing.

As the crew laid on the ground keeping steady eyes on the sky, some people got luckier than others to catch more glimpses of meteors at first. It could’ve been the timing or maybe better eyesight. Either way, when you heard the “ahh” or “wow” of those who have spotted a meteor, it would be followed by an “ugh” or “I missed it again!” There was one shooting star that was especially noticeable. It streaked across the sky leaving an electric tail that lingered for what felt like 10 seconds then popped a flash of light before disappearing. Once it faded, one of the customers asked their friend, “Did you see that one?!”. Their friend responded with a heavy, “No”. We all laughed.

Here’s a reminder that if you see a shooting star, make a wish!

-Kay

8/12– A couple weeks ago, Hammer stumbled across a unique species of flower right along the campground trails. While on my evening stroll last night, I decided to see if it was still growing in the same spot. Low and behold, I discovered a cluster of “ghost flowers”  hidden in the shadows. 

Monotropa uniflora, also known as the “Indian pipe flower” or “ghost flower”, is an uncommon, yet exciting find in the woods. If you aren’t looking closely, you might miss the flower tucked within the damp, shaded undergrowth. However, their distinct, translucent white color makes the flower easy to identify. 

What makes the “ghost flower” so special? The plant’s color comes from the lack of chlorophyll in its cells, which is used in photosynthesis and gives plants their green color. The ghost flower is a parasitic plant, meaning it has no need for photosynthesis. Instead, it feeds solely off the nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi within the forest soil. Mycorrhizal fungi and trees have a symbiotic relationship in the forest—the trees send nutrients to the fungi while the fungi pulls up hard-to-reach water and nutrients for the trees to absorb. The fungi forms a complex network, acting as a “highway” for trees to send needed nutrients to one another. The “ghost flower” disrupts that relationship, intercepting the nutrients from the fungi and stealing it for itself (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/mycotrophic/monotropa_uniflora.shtml).

The ”ghost flower” is part of a group of plants called mycoheterotrophs, which steal nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi. Some species of plants are only parasitic at certain stages of their life cycle; many species of orchid, for example, steal nutrients as seedlings before shifting to photosynthesis as they grow. Other species within this group include certain types of ferns and clubmosses. 

The ”ghost flower” was also one of Emily Dickinson’s favorite plants, and a picture of the flower decorates the cover of her first published book. She famously referred to it as the “preferred flower of life”(https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/roomitem/preferred-flower-of-life/).

I hope you enjoyed this brief lesson on the ecology of the beautiful North Woods!

-Olivia

8/11/26 – Boundary Waters enthusiast and frequent visitor of Sawbill, Steve Wilbers, has shared with us a beautiful short piece he wrote. Given the nature of this particular summer, with the reunion and the recent closures of the boundary waters, it’s the perfect thing to share.

Dragonflies and Love’ Laughter

By Stephen Wilbers

Do you believe, as I do, that things that are lost sometimes return?

About 15 years ago I was on a writer’s retreat on a small Rainy Lake island preserved and
protected by the Oberholtzer Foundation. My cabinmate was Scott King, one of Minnesota’s
foremost dragonfly experts and publisher of Red Dragonfly Press.

I remember watching in awe as Scott spent nearly an hour with a magnifying glass trying to
pry open a dragonfly’s damaged wing as it was emerging from pupation. When I saw his
dismay at not succeeding, I was reminded that becoming attached to even the smallest
creature is a beautiful thing.

Before his untimely death at 56, Scott published This Northern Nonsense, a chapbook of my
poems that included this poem:

Dragonflies

See those two dragonflies?
Do you see how they hover
above the blue water,
and how for an instant
the world stands still?
Do you see how the waves stop
beating the shore, how
the birds pause to listen,
the butterfly holds its tongue,
and on the transparent
wings of summer
all that is lost
returns?

On Sunday, July 10, I was paddling from a Sawbill Lake campsite with my niece Meg Simon,
a 2010-13 Sawbill crew member, when we noticed that the clouds looked strange. They
were tinged brown. It was a sweltering, windy afternoon, the day before the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was closed down due to a line of fires stretching 300 miles
northeast into Canada.

We were paddling from a campsite where I had stayed in 2007 with my 82-year-old father
on his final trip to the Boundary Waters, where his ashes are now scattered. That trip with
my dad was the last of our 29 consecutive years of canoeing together.
I was swimming near the campsite’s smooth sloping granite shore, thinking about the
snapping turtle that had chomped down on a walleye I had left on a stringer, when I felt
something odd.

“Uncle Steve,” my niece said from the rock above me, “there’s a dragonfly on your head.”

I didn’t know whether to feel complimented or insulted that it had mistaken my bald head
for a rock. Either way, I slowly submerged to see what it would do, and when I rose, it
landed on my head again. Not once, but several times. Each time I could feel its prickly feet
and gossamer weight.

“It looks disgruntled,” Meg said, laughing her wonderful laugh. And then we were both
laughing.

Then she said, “Maybe it’s Grandpa talking to you.”

---

Stephen Wilbers is a former FOECLA board member and newspaper columnist whose July
2025 Musing was titled “Fireflies and Falling Stars.” He has served as Associate Director of
the University of Minnesota’s Creative Writing Program and as board chair of the Loft
Literary Center. His publications include books on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness and books on writing, including his Ph.D. dissertation on the history of the Iowa
Writers’ Workshop, which was published by the University of Iowa Press. His poetry
collections have been published by Red Dragonfly Press and About Place Journal.

---

Steve went on his first canoe trip in 1979 when Sawbill was operating under Frank and Mary Alice. This year he and his niece, Meg, joined us for Sawbill’s 70th reunion 一 isn’t that amazing? For many visitors like Steve, their first trip through Sawbill has had them coming back for years, excited to experience a new part of the boundary waters while also hoping to see some familiar faces in the store that they’ve met along the way. Sawbill saw lots of familiar faces this year from various decades returning to make new memories with old friends, reclaiming pieces from their past and remembering those lost to it. The age of being 21 with your friends and going for night-long paddles may be over, but meeting up with those friends years later, sharing the boundary waters with your kids, or grandkids, on their first ever trip is the start of a brand new adventure. 

Fortunately, we were able to have the reunion before the closure of the boundary waters. From July 14th to July 30th, no one could enter the boundary waters and to say things at Sawbill slowed down is an understatement, however, the support we received from all of you did not. People still showed up to camp in the campground and others drove up the trail just to shop in our store. We also received many online orders with heartfelt notes telling us to keep our heads up. And once permits became available again, it didn’t take long for our summer crowd to return in full swing. Our days recently have been busy and long, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Thank you, Steve, for sharing your writing with us. We hope to see you pass through on your next trip!

-Kay

8/4/26- Happy Tuesday!

We are excited to recieve announcements for further reopenings of the Boundary Waters! Effective today, all water access entry points within the Tofte Ranger District and Gunflint Ranger District are opening for overnight paddling (Superior National Forest). This is very exciting news as the Sawbill crew is very much looking forward to sending out more people on more amazing trips!

Here is a list of the newest entry point openings along the Gunflint Trail:

• #52 Brant Lake
• #54 Seagull Lake
• #55 Saganaga Lake
• #57 Magnetic Lake
• #80 Larch Creek

Forest Service map showing open status of BWCA entry points as of August 4th

As parts of the Boundary Waters contiue to open up we want to remind people that campfires are still banned in the BWCAW. As of now all of the open areas of the Boundary Waters are in no imminent fire danger! With that said, its still important to have well planned trip and have saftey as a top priority. With these final months of the season approaching, we want everyone to enjoy the reopenings and everything that the beautiful Boundary Waters has to offer!

So what has the crew been up to this week? Since a few members of the crew are gearing up for their last weeks at Sawbill, bonding time has become more important than ever. Olivia, CJ, and Owen decided to explore one of the fan favorite hiking spots along the Sawbill Trail. From Britton Peak Trailhead, Carlton Peak is a moderate 3.5 mile out and back treck up to a gorgeous overlook of Lake Superior and vast rolling hills. For those avid hikers out there, Britton Peak Trailhead also provides access to the Superior Hiking Trail! To learn more about the Superior Hiking Trail please reference the Superior Hiking Trail Homepage.

Olivia, CJ, and Owen atop Carlton Peak

Lake Superior as seen from Carlton Peak

IMPORTANT! These wonderful photos were taken at about 8PM which leads to the final update of this Tuesday newsletter. As you can imagine, it gets increasingly difficult to rent canoes out in the dark. Therefore, starting September 1st we will be switching over to our fall hours: 8AM-7PM we will be open and ready assist however we can!

Have a great Tuesday!

-Owen

8/1- Happy August Folks! 

We are happy to report that the Boundary Waters has now partially reopened for overnight camping as of last Wednesday. Clare, Dan, and the crew are now happy to be back to regular scheduled programming of sending our customers out on trips and issuing permits. 

As a refresher from our last newsletter post, the following entry points within the Tofte District are currently open for overnight camping: 

• #34 Island River
• #35 Isabella Lake
• #36 Hog Creek
• #37 Kawishiwi Lake
• #38 Sawbill Lake
• #39 Baker Lake
• #40 Homer Lake
• #41 Brule Lake
• #67 Bog Lake
• #75 Little Isabella River
• #84 Snake River

On August 4th, all BWCA entry points within the Tofte District and the Gunflint Ranger District will be open for water access, along with overnight motor access on the Saganaga and Seagull Lakes. There are a few areas that are still currently undergoing fire suppression or rehabilitation:  #14 Little Indian Sioux River North, #15 Sioux-Hustler Trail, and #19 Stuart River will be closed for maintenance through the end of the permit quota season to ensure they are accessible to visitors once they reopen.

In other fun news, our resident head chef-on-crew, Lea, brought Paris to Sawbill with a fantastic french-inspired feast for dinner last night! The menu featured a french onion soup, ratatouille, french-inspired baked mashed potatoes, and an apple tart. As the crew sat down to eat, the melody of “Non, je ne regrette rien” filled the dining room, creating a Michelin-level dining experience. 

Happy Camping! 

-Olivia

7/26 Good News! Limited access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is now available! Boundary Waters Day Use permits open at select Cook County Entry Points on Monday July 27th, although overnight permits are still cancelled through July 29, 2026.

The BWCAW was closed on July 14th at 12:01am after a lightning storm created a surge of wildfires across the forest, predominanty in the Ely area. In an effort to re-open select areas of the BWCA (as fire activity, weather and resources allows) the Forest Service will continue to evaluate BWCA quota permit points daily.

Specific entry points in our area that will be opening to Day Use Only on Monday, July 27th:

-Sawbill Lake

-Baker Lake

-Homer Lake

-Brule Lake

In additon to day trips opening, there is also a proposal for opening select entry points of overnight use. In an effort to re-open select areas of the BWCA, the Forest Service continues to evaluate fire activity, weather and resources daily. Forest Officials anticipate the ability to open select BWCA entry points on Thursday, July 30, barring no significant wildfire activity. The proposal, when implemented, would open access to overnight use at 37 of the 103 quota entry points and re-open approximately 424, 231 acres (39%) of the BWCA to the public. We expect an announcement from the Forest Service with a final decision on the proposed reopening on Monday, July 27th.

The entry points under consideration for opening include select entry points in the Gunflint Ranger District, Kawishiwi Ranger District, and LaCroix Ranger District. In the Tofte District, the area closest to us, the following entry points are being considered:

• #34 Island River
• #35 Isabella Lake
• #36 Hog Creek
• #37 Kawishiwi Lake
• #38 Sawbill Lake
• #39 Baker Lake
• #40 Homer Lake
• #41 Brule Lake
• #67 Bog Lake
• #75 Little Isbella River
• #84 Snake River

Welcome back to the BWCA!

-Gary

7/25/26 With most of our canoes back in the canoe yard at Sawbill amid the BWCA closure, I have been reflecting on this timeless mode of transportation that has been briefly halted. There are so many little details that make these works of art the best way to explore the Boundary Waters. With that being said, I thought I would briefly run through each of the canoe models we offer. 

To start, we have roughly 170-180 canoes in our fleet, depending on the year. We carry both Northstar and Wenonah canoes. Both companies are based in Minnesota and are premier canoe manufacturers. 

Around 85 of our canoes are from Northstar. The most common model in our fleet is the Seliga. This canoe is a 17 foot, kevlar canoe with a gunnel width of 36. It is best known for its overall ability, a smooth stable ride with elite carrying capacity and a knack for its touring style. This canoe will comfortably carry 2 people on extensive length trips and is my personal favorite setup for being able to fish in.

Joe Seliga was a wood canvas canoe builder in Ely, MN and this is his design. Northstar Canoes has re-incarnated this classic Boundary Waters canoe in modern ultra-light materials. 

Our other 2-person kevlar canoe from Northstar is the Pearl. This smaller canoe is an option for a quick day trip around the Kelso Loop or up and down Sawbill Lake. Sitting at 15ft 9in, this canoe is a little shorter but that is supported by its high stability. It doesn’t have any thwarts, so it can even be turned around and paddled backwards from the bow seat to be paddled as a large solo canoe for individuals with more gear or a furry friend or a parent/child combo.

Shifting to our Northstar 3-person kevlar canoe models, we carry both the Northwind 18 and the B19. World renowned for their stability and carrying capacity, these canoes are the go to for a full family touring canoe. The Northwind 18 is a smaller 3-person canoe. At only 43 lbs, made up of lightweight kevlar material, it is perfect for a day trip with 3 adults, or for a family for an overnight trip . The Northstar B19, our widest canoe, retains the status as our most stable and high capacity canoe. Despite its size, it is still very light at approximately 50 lbs. Ideal for carrying the entire family with a half ton carrying capacity. Best for fishing with multiple people or making room for an overnight trip with a dog.

The final model in our Northstar lineup is the Northwind Solo. Weighing in at only 27 lbs, this 15ft 5in solo kevlar canoe is ideal for long distance trips or a pleasant day paddle. With a unique layout just for our canoes here at Sawbill, this version of the Northwind Solo has the seat set back from the center along with a fixed yoke, making it perfect for tripping. No need to install the yoke at portages, and your gear pack will counter balance the seat being set back from the center. This is great for quick portaging and more time on the water.

Overall, Northstar Canoes contain an elliptical hull design which means the ellipses have gentle curves and good initial stability when paddling.They also have a design referred to as flare. Flare creates unparalleled secondary stability. When a canoe is leaned over it keeps getting wider, which means it keeps getting more stable and resistant to capsize. The benefit of an elliptical hull and flare is a canoe that handles well for all paddlers (Northstar Canoes Stability). 

Shifting to our selection of Wenonah Canoes, our most commonly chosen canoe is the Minnesota II. This model is considered the most efficient, straight-tracking 2-person canoe ever made. It holds the title of being a performance touring canoe which means that it can cover a lot of ground quickly with consistent paddling. This makes the MN2 efficient on the water and a great option for longer distance paddling.

We also carry the larger version of the MN2; the 3-seater Minnesota 3. A 20 foot canoe with 3 seats travels faster and easier than all other tandem canoes. It can haul luggage quickly to a basecamp destination or take your family and friends on a quick sprint around a 3-day loop. It has a removable center seat that can convert it to a high capacity 2-person canoe for a long expedition.

Additionally, we also have one of the company’s solo canoes available for rent, the Wenonah Wilderness. This canoe paddles very efficiently due to its lightweight nature but holds plenty of gear. It has a stable hull and moderate rocker which allows the canoe to be paddled while sitting on the seat or kneeling. This kevlar canoe is 15ft 4in and weighs roughly 30 lbs. Similarly to the Northwind Solo, we also have these canoes laid up with a fixed yoke and the seat set back from the center, making it great for multi-day canoe trips.

The final Wenonah canoe we have is the trusty T-Formex Spirit II, 2-person canoe. This is a highly durable canoe, made for late season trips with less than ideal weather conditions. It does, however, run much heavier at 73 lbs so it is a budget friendly option or good for a quick day trip. It is much more durable than the kevlar canoes but more effort for portaging and paddling. Our specific Sawbill Spirit II’s come with web seats, the same design as in all kevlar canoes.

We also maintain a small number of another type of canoe, the Grey Duck Vision 18. Designed specifically for the Boundary Waters and Quetico, it specializes in being able to be comfortable and stable for family paddling and fishing. It has a shallow arch hull design for secondary stability and maintains precision and straight-tracking. This kevlar canoe is 44 lbs, fits 2-people, and is slightly longer than other models at 18’ 9”. This canoe has modern resin-infusion technology with the added protection of Maxguard premium gelcoat. It is considered a hybrid between a performance and touring based canoe. 

The final canoe in our lineup is the trusty Alumacraft. An aluminium 17’ touring canoe weighing in at 70lbs is the epitome of stability and durability. A seemingly bulletproof canoe that handles all conditions comfortably due to its ability to track very straight with its added keel. Great functionality for fishing and hauling big gear loads. Also a more budget friendly option compared to the lightweight kevlar canoes. 

All together these are the types of canoes and models we currently carry in our fleet. When the wilderness opens completely back up, we want you to feel as ready for your next adventure as we are. There is a canoe for everyone and finding the right one for you starts here at Sawbill. Feel free to reach out with any questions and we would be happy to explain more about these lovely canoes. 

-Gary

7/19/26 – Yesterday evening we were informed that the Forest Service had canceled permits through this coming Friday, July 24th. As a result we thought now would be the perfect time to give a little more information on some trip options still available outside of the Boundary Waters (shown on the Superior National Forest map which we sell online and also have available in our store).

First up is the Timber-Frear Canoe Route which is about a 45 minute drive southwest of our location. This series of 7+ lakes offers an experience similar to the Boundary Waters with options to paddle, portage, and camp at 11 backcountry sites with fire grates (remember there’s a fire ban currently in effect across the forest) and a path back to a latrine. You might see some fishing boats on Whitefish, but once you portage into the surrounding lakes it would be very surprising to see anyone with a motor. Lakes along this route offer prime walleye fishing and also the opportunity for northerns and possibly even some bonus crappies.

Also available in this area is the Whitefish Lake Rustic Campground which has three campsites. For future reference the “Rustic Campground” designation means you will need to provide your own water and/or have a plan to treat it from the lake, pack out all trash, and these sites do not have nightly fees associated with them.

Now is a good time to mention Google Maps or other GPS apps are not always a reliable resource when it comes to navigating the backroads in our area. They will occasionally route down logging/minimum maintenance roads that are not meant for passenger vehicles (this is where the Superior National Forest map comes in handy). What appears to be a shortcut might end up with your sedan bottoming out or getting stuck in a creek bottom (don’t ask us how we know).

Another area worth exploring is Crescent Lake which is a 20-30 minute drive south and east of Sawbill. Here you’ll find a 33 site established campground with a little over half of the sites reservable through the Crescent Lake Campground section of recreation.gov and the other portion first-come, first-serve. For reference this campground rarely fills even during peak season.

Crescent Lake also has a few dispersed campsite options that can be reached by boat (shown on the Superior National Forest map and also the Fisher F-6 map [available for purchase in our store]). Daytrips from Crescent include;

• Paddle and portage through a series of small lakes and portages off the south end of the lake on your way to Rice Lake. If fishing bring tackle for walleye, smallmouth, and northerns as Rice has a grab-bag of each.
• Travel through a marshy channel to get to Boulder Lake which supports a population of muskie, and also has opportunities to catch walleye and smallmouth bass.
• Possible access to Lichen Lake via a narrow marshy creek. If traveling quietly this would be the perfect place to view wildlife. Full disclosure there is a short portion of the route between Crescent and Lichen that may or may not end up being a bushwhacking excursion (we are trying to gather more intel on this and will update here when we know more). Lichen (also accessed off FS Road 170) has a dispersed campsite and boasts a healthy walleye population, so bring your fishing gear if so inclined.
• And lest we forget Crescent Lake itself has a ton of nooks and crannies to explore and is well known for it’s walleye fishing. Muskie are also present in the lake, but are “smaller” in size.

Some other off the beaten path options include;

• Two dispersed campsites outside of the Boundary Waters on the eastern two thirds of Homer Lake (campsites are marked on McKenzie Map 21 and Fisher F-6). The western third of the lake is inside the Boundary Waters, so as things stand at the time of this writing, is closed to the public. Homer offers some great walleye fishing opportunities and a quick hop across the Brule Lake Road (FS Road 326) gets you into Star Lake which also would be fun to explore and/or fish (walleye present in Star).
• Cascade Lake, located just off FS Road 170 (AKA the Grade) also has two dispersed campsites and quite a healthy walleye population. Large northerns can also be caught here.

And as always the Sawbill Lake Campground is a great spot to stay with access to the southern portion of Sawbill Lake which is outside of the Wilderness.

The above are just a smattering of the many options still available in the Superior National Forest. If you’re looking for even more places to explore follow these links to other rustic lake campgrounds and backcountry sites at Fourmile Lake, Hogback Lake, Windy Lake, and Silver Island Lake (all somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour from our location) and the list goes on from there. -Jessica

7/14/26 – With the recent closure of the BWCAW, day to day life here at Sawbill has begun to look a little different. For information about the closure you can look at the blog post from 7/13/26.

Here at Sawbill we had our 70th anniversary over the past weekend! Clare and Dan hosted over 200 former crew, family friends, and Sawbill enthusiasts to celebrate the legacy of Sawbill and the positive impact the Outfitter has had on all those whose path has led them here!

We began the celebrations on Friday with a gathering at the Log House for drinks, good food, and fabulous recollections of the past. With the party in full swing, it was time for the annual Dome Dance! The Dome Dance is a Sawbill tradition that includes a live band, line dances called famously by Terrence and Laura, and a whole lotta fun. The night ended with a pizza party at the Log House, hosted by the one and only Dan Shirley.

On Saturday, we started the day with a pancake breakfast that will go down in the annals of history. With three generations of Hansen women working alongside current crew members, we were able to raise $2,000 for the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic! After the pancakes were eaten, people gathered in front of the Sawbill store to hear a talk from Bill Hansen on the history of Sawbill–antedotes were shared, wisdom was imparted, and reunion goers and customers alike learned 70 years of BWCAW history through the story of Sawbill. 

The celebration continued with Dragonboat racing down by the landing. An expertly crafted tournament produced 72 paddlers, 18 boats, and four champions; Sawyer Laird, Paul Ryda, Kari Anderson, and two time reunion champion Lindsey Price! 

We then headed back to the canoe yard for a barbecue dinner before the penultimate program of the weekend. Former crew and family packed into the Square Dome for speeches from Bill, Cindy Lou, Clare, Adam, and Kit. Following the speeches, current crew–introduced by Clare–reenacted a day in the life of a Sawbill crew member before the entire crowd participated in a Sawbill themed round of Jeopardy. A tough competition was had but in the end Team ‘Roll n’ Put’ prevailed as the champions of Jeopardy. 

After the program, everyone gathered in the canoe yard for campfire songs led by “The Legends”; Kathy Heltzer, Carol Winter, Phil Higley, John Schrag, and Ward Freeman. To end the night reunion goers dispersed for night swims, foosball tournaments (shoutout Mikey and Meg) and final goodbyes. 

As we navigate BWCAW closures here at Sawbill, we feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such a wonderful community of former crew, customers, and wilderness enthusiasts. This past weekend we celebrated 70 years of business–serving customers, creating friendships, and helping people enjoy the beauty of the BWCAW. To everyone who came to the reunion or has been a member of the Sawbill family–thank you for 70 amazing years!

-Lea