8/10/05 – We received an update from the Forest Service regarding the forest fire on Alpine/Seagull/Red Rock lakes. The fire has grown in size to 960 acres and is 5 percent contained. The fire is continuing to move to the northeast and it does not pose any danger to the Sawbill area.

8/9/05 – Here is a map detailing the upcoming fire ban in the BWCAW:

Campfires will be prohibited in the pink shaded region. Fires will still be permitted in the green shaded zone as well as in most areas outside the BWCA Wilderness.

8/9/05 – NEWS FLASH – The Forest Service has announced a total fire ban in the blowdown area within the BWCAW beginning on Friday, Aug. 12, 2005.
Camp stoves and grills will still be permitted. The “blowdown area” includes Sawbill Lake and all routes to the north and east of Sawbill. We will post a map of the restricted area as soon as we have one.
This burning ban does not affect Sawbill Lake Campground or most other areas outside the Boundary Waters.

8/8/05- According to Forest Service reports, there is a 650-acre forest fire burning in the Seagull/Alpine/Red Rock lakes area. This area is located northeast of Sawbill and the fire is currently traveling northeast. Sawbill is approximately 25 miles away from the southwest corner of the fire. The Forest Service has not closed any entry points or routes in the Sawbill area. No burning restrictions are in effect.
We do not believe that this fire poses any threat to Sawbill Lake or any of the surrounding lakes or routes.

The fire is burning northeast between Seagull, Alpine and Red Rock Lakes.

8/7/05 – Every once and a while the crew feels the need to leave the woods for a short time and head into the “city”. So one tradition is for the ladies of Sawbill to get gussied up and strut their stuff in the town of Grand Marais, MN. So on a balmy night in late July the ladies of Sawbill hit the town; eating and laughing at the local restaurant, the Angry Trout.

The lovely ladies of Sawbill, Lounging on the rooftop of the Gunflint Tavern.

8/6/05 – We had two customers who traveled a long way to visit us at Sawbill this weekend. Delor and Angela Da Silva rode all the way from Brazil to Sawbill. This is actually their second bike trip in North America. In 2003, they circumnavigated South America and North America, including a visit to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Delor commented that the 1400 miles of gravel on the Alaskan Highway was a challenge – not “good gravel” like the Sawbill Trail. The Da Silvas are headed back to Brazil where, in January, they are having the motorcycle shipped to Europe for a projected five year ride around Europe and Asia.

Delor and Angela Da Silva vow to return to Sawbill for a canoe trip once they complete their motorcycle world tour.

8/2/05 – Camping with dogs is a pretty routine phenomenon here in canoe country. Every season, hundreds of dogs of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments pass through Sawbill Lake, headed for adventure and wide open spaces with their human pals in tow.
The only problem for Sawbill customer Julie Grieves is that she is a cat person–an avid cat person. To her delight, Julie discovered that her 11-month-old cat Cara Mell loves canoeing.
If the next time you visit the BWCAW you happen upon a canoe with a feline riding bow, prancing up and down the gunwales, or swimming alongside (yes, you read that right), don’t tweak out, man.
This is cat country.

Cara Mell the cat surveys a calm Sawbill Lake at sunset.

Julie Grieves and Cara head out on Sawbill Lake for a little evening walleye fishing.

7/31/05 – They just keep freaking coming. Former Sawbill crew member Natasha White (1996 -1999, formerly Natasha Warner) and her husband Ray White recently became parents with the arrival of daughter Willow White. Natasha and family currently live outside of Grand Marais. Congratulations!

Natasha, Ray and Willow White.

7/28/05 – Sometimes people do daring, adventurous, inexplicable things. Hillary and Norgay. Lewis and Clark. Magellan and de Leon. And now, Kari and Sonya.
Defying conventional wisdom and the threat of severe sunburn, Sawbill crew members Kari Anderson-Hermann and Sonya Hansen decided to tackle the infamous Kelso Loop–by inner tube.
After 7 1/2 hours of tube-assisted swimming, including through the shallow, weed-, leech- and fish-filled Kelso River, the duo completed the trek looking tired, slightly deranged, and very, very wrinkly.

Day One: Sawbill Lake. Spirits: high. Food supplies: low.

Kari and Sonya patrol the Kelso River. Baffled canoeists look on.

Always setting a good example, the adventurers made sure to fill out their day use BWCAW entry permit.

7/26/05 – Sawbill Head Cheese Bill Hansen and his children Clare and Carl recently completed a week long canoe trip in the remote waters north of Atikokan, Ontario. They reported seeing few travelers, abundant wildlife and heavy airplane traffic (the main difference between this unprotected area and the Boundary Waters). Fishing, especially for northern pike and smallmouth bass, was excellent.

Where is the portage?

Clare keeps calm while landing Carl’s monster (OK, medium sized) northern.

Muddy shoes build character and enhance family togetherness.