6/30/05 – Many loyal Sawbill customers remember our old rental dome with a great deal of fondness. Sure, it was sometimes referred to by customers as the “rental shack,” “outfitting shanty,” “gear kiosk,” “equipment hole,” “quonset hut,” and other less-than-flattering monikers. But many still consider quixotic dome an important Sawbill icon.
Some of the more nostalgic members of the Sawbill family have lately been wondering and asking about the fate of the ol’ Sawbill dome. So here you go:

The dome–still standing, and only a little worse for wear. The old equipment area of the dome is now the Power Dome, a center for weightlifting, aerobics, yoga and wellness.

Remember the video viewing area? It’s now been converted to the Sawbill band practice area and recording studio. Don’t forget the laundry room; it’s now a brewery. As you can see, the quonset hut of old is as multidimensional as ever.

6/28/05 – With the Fourth of July just around the corner, the Sawbill family has finally reached full strength. Straggler Shannon Grace is our last crew member to arrive for the 2005 season. Shannon graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison this spring with a degree in nursing. She will be studying for her boards this summer, so direct all medical stumpers to Shannon. To learn more about the Sawbill crew, including staff members’ favorite BWCA routes, check out our staff profiles.
Sawbill Campground hosts Jim and Rachel TerBeest arrived yesterday after a stressful 2-day drive from Omaha, Neb., during which they lost a wheel off their 32-foot trailer. Fortunately, no major damage was done and Jim and Rachel are settled in on campsite 17 and ready for another relaxed summer at Sawbill.

Welcome back to Shannon, Jim and Rachel.

6/25/05 – The prescribed burn started by the Forest Service on June 17 reignited today, after eight days of heat, wind and drought.
After returning from her afternoon walk at 3 p.m., Cindy Hansen called the Forest Service to report large plumes of smoke at the site of the prescribed burn, about a mile south of Sawbill.
By 5 p.m. today, three separate fires had sprung up. The first of a dozen or so Forest Service vehicles arrived at the scene shortly after 5 p.m. and began to control one of the blazes.
As we stood on the Sawbill Trail, large gusts of wind breathed greater life into the unattended fires, which moved slowly from west to east burning up brush and trees left unconsumed from the original prescribed burn.
By 7 p.m., the Forest Service had more or less put out all the hot spots. But as we learned today, this fire will never really be out until Sawbill gets a long, saturating rain.

At 3 p.m. today, Cindy Hansen observed large columns of smoke coming from the sight of last week’s prescribed burn.

By 5 p.m., the burn had fully reignited, drawing concerned and quizzical looks from passing motorists.

Duane “Bear” Cihlar, a senior Forest Service fire technician, observes the blaze minutes before the full fire crew arrives.

6/22/05 – Summer has arrived at Sawbill. After a week of sunny 70 to 80 degree days, it feels as if the season has finally begun. The fishing is also picking up. In the photo above, Joshua Swensen proudly displays his recent catch at Cresent Lake. The small mouth was caught using a worm and a #6 hook. With many members of the Sawbill crew enjoying time each day at the lake, it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful summer.

6/19/05 – Lida, Sonya and Alison work to decorate a cake for Sawbill’s first festive dinner of the year. The theme for the dinner was cliches and the crew dressed for the occasion. Notable costumes included “once in a blue moon” and “not the sharpest crayon in the box”. The party was held a month late in honor of Cindy Hansen and Pat Nash’s birthdays, both of which were on May 17.

Two forest rangers gamely pose for a picture.

6/18/05 – In an attempt to combat forest fires in the Boundary Waters, the Forest Service initiated a prescribed burn just off the Sawbill trail on Friday, June 17. The burn covered approximately 74 acres and was meant to burn primarily the fine fuels, the smaller woods (3-inches thick or smaller) which greatly increase the risk of a massive, rapidly-spreading forest fire. The dedicated fire crew worked for two days to ensure that the fires wouldn’t greatly affect travel in the area and stayed well under control. A big thank you to the Forest Service.

6/16/05 – After spending the off-season working on a farm in Vermont, crew member Laura Smith returned to Sawbill yesterday, immediately putting her spud hauling skills to work. Laura returns to Sawbill for her fifth summer, making her one of our most experienced staff members. Laura and fellow crew member Jeff Green are engaged to be married next summer. Congratulations to Laura and Jeff and welcome back to work!

6/13/05 – Former Sawbill crew member and newsletter contributor Beth Rolf (now Beth Rehfuss) was married yesterday to Bill Rehfuss at the lovely Gale Farm Park in Minnetrista, Minn. Bill, Cindy, Clare, Carl and Adam Hansen and Lida Storch attended the event and even contributed by playing the “Beer Barrel Polka” after the ceremony. A pig roast and wedding dance followed the nuptials and continued into the wee hours. Congratulations Beth and Bill!

Bill, Carl, Cindy, Adam, Beth and Clare celebrate the momentous occasion.

Weddings are just more fun in a big, red barn.