5/27/08 – After the busy weekend, the Sawbill crew begins to work on all the clean up jobs–not as glamorous as outfitting groups, perhaps, but just as important. Consider this another typical Tuesday at the office.

Bill tackles the annual chore of cleaning the water tank. Because Sawbill’s water is not chemically treated, minerals and algae can slowly build up inside the tank.

A view from the inside.

Meanwhile, Ellyn and Carl clean, refuel, and test our camp stoves. By tonight, the stoves will be back on the shelf ready for tomorrow’s canoe trips.

5/25/08 – Today was our first 70 degree day at Sawbill since last September. On a related note, the Sawbill Glacier, located on the north side of the store, is in danger of disappearing forever, or at least until next winter. Those who would like to see this majestic ice formation should probably come tomorrow.

The Glacier, seen here, was once the size of a large snowbank.

5/24/08 – Memorial Day weekend at Sawbill is a picture-perfect one so far: today was sunny and calm, with good fishing reports coming in throughout the day (from Smoke and Burnt Lakes especially). At the risk of provoking the mosquito gods, the bugs have been surprisingly non-existent so far this year–hopefully, the start of a mild bug season.
Memorial Day weekend also brought a number of first-time visitors to the Sawbill area. The Claycomb family from Bloomington, Minn., arrived at the Sawbill Campground late yesterday evening. Although the Claycomb’s first Sawbill camping trip got off to a slow start (their “new” used 1960s-era pop-up camper needed some last-minute improvements, such as current tabs and functional tail lights), the family of four spent the afternoon exploring the islands and bays of Alton Lake.

(From left) Ruth, Nancy, Alex, and Doug Claycomb found their way to campsite #18 last night at midnight, but made the most of a beautiful day today.

5/24/08 – We have a minor route update for those planning trips out of Brule Lake this summer. Grassy Lake, one of four small lakes linking Brule to Winchell Lake, is very low and close to impassible due to a blown beaver dam. Groups heading to Winchell Lake are advised to travel through the Cone Lakes to avoid this trouble spot. We will provide further updates throughout the summer if the situation changes.

5/23/08 – We got some old school Sawbill crew visitation today. Jitesh Pattni is going on a canoe trip in three days with his Mom Lisa. Until then, Jitesh can be found wandering around the Sawbill area drinking coffee and eating bacon.
Laura Greensmith is pitching in for the weekend, helping out with the Memorial Day crowds and mixing drinks in her new Vortex® hand-crank blender. We are very grateful for Jitesh and Laura’s presence.

Jitesh Pattni at home in his element.

Laura Greensmith shows off the merchandise.

5/22/08 – Folks driving from Minneapolis to Sawbill this week would be forgiven for thinking that they are traveling back in time. While the tree leaves are in full bloom in southern Minnesota, they get progressively smaller as you travel north. Here at Sawbill, we’re still waiting for our leaves to bloom. But red, green, and brown buds dot the tree branches–a positive sign for what a warm Memorial Day weekend has in store.

The birch and aspen appear brittle and dead compared to the pines. In a couple of weeks, that illusion will be gone.

A customer today measured the water temperature of Sawbill Lake at 42 degrees F. Refreshing, no?

5/21/08 – The Sawbill Lake Campground, Crescent Lake Campground, and Temperance River Campground are National Forest campgrounds that we manage under contract with the U. S. Forest Service. The Forest Service has decided to include the campgrounds at Sawbill and Crescent Lakes in their national reservation system. Roughly half the sites at each campground are reservable with the remaining sites being first come, first served. Temperance River Campground is all first come, first served.
You can reserve online by clicking these links for the Sawbill Lake Campground or the Crescent Lake Campground or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777.
Sites can’t be reserved for any sooner than four nights or any longer than six months in advance.
I know this is confusing, but hopefully it will get less so as we all get used to it. – Bill

5/20/08 – New crew members Marc Le Voir and Ellyn Phearman have arrived. Marc, Bill Hansen’s nephew, lives in Maple Lake, Minn., and just finished freshman year at Bemidji State University where he studies philosophy and German. Reckon this one’s a thinker. Ellyn grew up in Watertown, Minn., and just finished freshman year at Luther College in Iowa where she’s studying biology with aims of becoming a surgeon. Check her out brandishing cutlery below. Someday it could be surgical instruments. – Lee

Marc hangs a tent to be cleaned out behind the outfitter.

Ellyn goofs off while cooking dinner for the crew.

5/19/2008 – Grant and Jan Friberg caught three nice walleye on Sawbill Lake Saturday while out fishing for Grant’s 57th birthday. Jan caught the biggest one, just under two feet long. Grant had brought a bottle of Chardonnay up from their Wyoming, Minn., home betting he’d be eating fish on his birthday. Thanks to Jan’s good luck and their perseverance fishing through windy weather, Grant got his birthday wish and then some. – Lee

Jan and Grant Friberg show off their catch at the outfitter before dinner.

5/14/08 – When I opened the store this morning, I glanced at the schedule taped to the window sill and got a small shock. This impressively large spider is a wolf spider. According to Wikipedia, wolf spiders live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic wanderer hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances. Others lie in wait for passing prey, often from or near the mouth a burrow. It’s a good thing Cindy didn’t find it or we would have had to administer CPR to both Cindy and the spider. – Bill

A wolf spider inspects the store schedule.