5/5/16 – Today is our very own Bill Hansen’s birthday! He is celebrating by working hard all day to get our canoe fleet ready for the season. We’ll make him take a break this evening though for a picnic down by the lake to enjoy the lovely spring weather we are having this week. If you want to wish him a birthday greeting, you can send it to bill@sawbill.com.
-Clare

5/3/16 – Just in time for the open water, Sawbill’s new Wenonah canoes have arrived. For excited paddlers, this is better than Christmas! -Clare

Another sure sign of spring in the northwoods.

4/28/16 – It’s official, the ice is out on Sawbill Lake! One small holdout sheet of ice is being blown around the south end of the lake, but it’s not big enough to impede travel. There’s still some snow in the campground but paddling season is upon us.

Cindy and Dan jump for joy after seeing the first loon on Sawbill this afternoon.

4/27/16 – It appears the sun is finally setting on another winter season here at Sawbill. Sawbill Lake, as you can see below, is nearly free of ice. I expect we’ll be able to make it official sometime tomorrow. We also stopped in at Homer Lake today, which is ice free. Brule, on the other hand, is still covered but shouldn’t be more than a couple days behind. The ducks are back in full force, and we heard the first loon of the season on Homer. -Clare

4/25/16 – Paddling season is so close you can almost smell it. That’s what Huckleberry tells me anyway. The ice technicians are reporting that there are 8 inches of ice on Sawbill, but that it is better described as “8 inches of mush.” It is so deteriorated it won’t hold a person anymore and they have resorted to measuring from a canoe. -Clare

Huck anxiously awaits the opening of the Sawbill Beach Club.

4/24/16 – Grey skies and light rain is the name of the game at Sawbill today. While the rest of us retreated to focus on inside jobs, intrepid crew member Brian headed out to check the ice. -Clare

Looking North from the canoe landing, ice is measuring at 9″. Open water is creeping in from the South though, and quacking ducks can be heard urging it along.

4/23/16 – Welcome back to crew member Brian Henry!

Brian is busier than ever getting Sawbill ready for summer. Not one to miss out on anything, he took a quick break for the all important ice measurement. We are happy to say there are now only 9 inches of ice on Sawbill. We are even happier to say that the ice is OUT on Kawishiwi. -Clare

4/21/16 – Your wish is our command here at Sawbill. We’ve heard the many requests for warmer weather and melting snow and ice. We are happy to report that Mother Nature has obliged and the lake ice is now measuring at a mere 12 inches. The countdown to summer paddling is on! -Clare

Phil and Dan needed to use the canoe to get over the thin ice along shore to get a good measurement on Sawbill.

4/12/16 – Attention Sawbill crew! We are seeking contact information for all former employees. Whether you think we probably have it or not, please update us with the best way to get a hold of you. Just email us at info@sawbill.com, or give us a call if you want to catch up. We have important Sawbill reunion details to share and we don’t want to miss anyone!
We look forward to hearing from you all 🙂
-Clare

4/8/16 – We spoke too soon! After giving us a quick taste of spring, Mother Nature brought back winter with a vengeance. We’ve had 10 inches of snow in the last few days, and it’s still coming down. We’ve at least learned enough throughout the years to keep the shovels handy until May so we were well prepared to dig out the wood pile this morning.

Between splitting, stacking, shoveling, hauling, and stoking, heating with wood keeps you warm in more ways than one.
-Clare