5/2/18 – It was a busy day up here at the Wilderness edge. The snow has finally melted sufficiently for us to access our old canoe storage building and set up the canoes on their summer racks in the yard. Long time Sawbill customers will recognize our storage building as our former rental building, aka The Dome.

Melting snow also means melting ice. Today’s measurement revealed 11 inches of hard ice with 3 inches of honeycombed ice on top of that. We also heard the season’s first loon call yesterday, they must be watching the ice conditions as anxiously as we are!

-Clare

4/30/18 – We woke up this morning to the welcome sound of a steady rain.  It only lasted a few minutes, but combined with the ingredients of a humid morning, warm wind, and a sunny afternoon we are set with the perfect recipe for some serious ice melting.  As of yesterday evening we measured 14.5″ porous and slushy ice with 8″ solid ice underneath.  -Jessica

4/27/18 – The ice is finally starting to make some noticeable progress!  The most recent check measured 10″ of porous ice with 15″ of solid ice underneath.  -Jessica

Although we did receive 6″ of snow a few days ago, the forecast looks to be turning around with highs predicted in the upper 40s and 50s all week! Snow and ice, you’re going down.

Fun fact; according to newsletter posts the past 15 years, the earliest Sawbill ice out since 2003 was April 18, 2005, while the latest was May 14, 2014. Feel free to dig into our archives for more ice out information and a few good laughs.

-Jessica

Looking for something to occupy your time during this beautiful April blizzard? Search no more! Northstar Canoe would like help creating a new T-shirt design and prizes are involved. Follow this link to Northstar’s website for contest details. Happy designing!

-Jessica

Yesterdays Northstar canoe delivery and blue skies have us really thinking spring. Although we haven’t seen any change in the ice conditions, things can happen quickly once the melt begins.

-Jessica

The first official ice measurement of the spring reports 15″ plus of hard packed snow (perfect for skiing not so much for ice melting), followed by 24″ of crystal clear solid ice. So far we’re off to a slow start with more cold weather in the forecast, but we’ll keep updating as things progress.

-Jessica

The ice out countdown begins! We are still blanketed in a nice layer of snow and ice. Although temps remain quite chilly as of recent, the direct sun is slowly making a dent in the white stuff as we inch closer and closer to something that resembles spring. As always, stay tuned for periodic ice condition reports.

– Jessica

Singer/songwriter and avid canoeist, Jerry Vandiver, recently sent us this very cute video of his song “Canoeing With Daddy.” If this doesn’t get you in the Boundary Waters spirit I’m not sure what will. Happy listening!

-Jessica

We’re still here, and its still wonderfully snowy outside. Below is the view from the landing yesterday afternoon. Beautiful, isn’t it?

About a week ago the ice measured 24″ thick. The test hole was drilled about halfway between the landing and Mouse Island (pictured above). No evidence remains after the snow and wind we’ve received the past few days.

-Jessica