1/31/12 - It continues to be winter here - if an odd winter. Instead of the usual snowfalls, we've been getting an inch or two every few days. We'll take what we can get. - Bill

Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Clare and I found this moose antler a few weeks ago while grooming the ski trail. We had high hopes for finding the other one, but no luck.

1/25/12 - The U.S. Forest Service is accepting reservations for BWCA Wilderness entry permits starting today. The permit gives your group, of up to nine people, permission to enter the wilderness on a certain day at a particular entry point. Each wilderness entry point has a daily quota for how many parties are allowed in. Once enough reservations are received to fill the quota, no more permits are allowed for that day and entry point.

It's a good idea to reserve the permit as soon as your entry date and entry point are firm. The length of the trip, where you go once you are in the wilderness and how many people you have, can remain flexible.

You can reserve your permit at: www.recreation.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-550-6777. Or, if you prefer, just call us and we will reserve the permit for you. - Bill

1/19/12 - We woke up this morning to find that the thermometer was reading -20 F. This is the coldest temperature we've had in awhile. It was quite windy overnight too, so it's chilly this morning. Right after sunrise, we had an interesting phenomenon. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but a light snow was falling. When the temperature is this low, the snow can condense right out of the air. It only lasted for an hour or so, but it added to an already beautiful outdoor scene, with the tiny snow flakes glinting like a million diamonds in the air.

Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio. - Bill

1/13/12 - Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP, North Shore Community Radio.

1/12/12 - Former Sawbill crew member, Max Wilson, became the father of a lovely baby boy early this morning. His name is Graham Hudson Wilson. He is 20" long and weighs 7 lbs 2 oz. Mother Marie, baby and father are healthy and doing fine. - Bill

Sawbill crew in 2030.

1/11/12 - Our friend, Jerry Vandiver, is a Nashville based songwriter who is working on a new CD that will be all canoeing related songs. He sent us a link today to his latest song along with a slide show from some of his past BWCA Wilderness canoe trips. - Bill

1/9/12 - We are getting quite a few calls from people wondering how much snow and ice we have here at Sawbill. We officially have 12" of snow on the ground. The lake ice is 16 - 18" thick. I re-groomed our 7.5K classic cross country ski trail yesterday and it is in pretty good condition.

Our daughter, Clare Hansen, has been home for a holiday visit. She headed back to Missoula, Montana today. Last night, as an end-of-visit treat, we walked out to the middle of Sawbill Lake and howled like wolves in the hope of getting real wolves to howl back. Cindy has a particular knack for this activity and more often than not can provoke a response. No luck last night though. We had a good time anyway and it was nice just to be out on the lake in the bright moonlight. This morning, however, there were fresh wolf tracks all around our house. I guess our wolf howling worked after all. - Bill

1/4/12 - The New Year celebration traditionally brings a reunion of Sawbill crew members, both current and former, for a few days of fun in the snow. This year, broomball and foosball were the main activities, with a lot of games, eating and visiting. - Bill

Broomball at midnight on Sawbill Lake. Cindy insisted on helmets, so we scrounged up every weird helmet we could find.

Champagne on Sawbill Lake at the turning of the year. Back row (l-r): Alison Bents, Leif Gilsvik, Luke Opel, Pat Bents, Liz Foot, Carl Hansen, Cindy Hansen, Sam Random, Molly Breslin. Front row (l-r): Jessica Hemmer, Clare Hansen, Joe Daniels, Nils Anderson, Tess Dornfeld.

12/31/11 - This is a very busy time of year at Sawbill. The usual Christmas whirl is followed quickly by our annual crew reunion over the New Years holiday. We have a great group here right now - busy making movies, taking pictures, skiing and playing broom ball - along with the usual fabulous food, drink and foosball.

Here is last week's Cook County West End News from WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

By the way, we have 13" of snow on the ground right now and more is on the way today and tomorrow. The crew drilled a hole in Sawbill Lake yesterday and the ice is 16" thick. - Bill

12/25/11 - A Very Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a peaceful world in the coming New Year from all of us celebrating here at Sawbill!

Roy is feeling the holiday spirit strongly.

Carl and I took a holiday ski on the frozen Temperance River. It was a great adventure, but I can't recommend it.

Carl examines an old support from the early 20th century railroad trestle that used to cross the river several miles upstream.

12/20/11 - I write this at 4:15 pm and it is already pretty dark outside. The white pines are silhouetted in black against a dark lavender sky. It is only really fully light for eight hours at this time of year. I don't mind it, but only because I know that the days will now start to lengthen.

Sawbill is one of the few places in Minnesota that has enough snow for cross country skiing right now. I've groomed the unplowed campground roads for both classic and skating technique and a few people have been driving up to ski. The lake is also excellent for skiing right now. The snow is a little deep near shore where the wind has piled it up, but it's only 2 or 3 inches deep on most of the lake. The ice is over a foot thick and there is no slush on the ice which makes travel very pleasant. - Bill

Looking more south than west on Sawbill Lake at 3:30 pm today.

We were a little surprised to find that the beavers have started to build a dam at the mouth of the creek that drains the pond between Alton Lake and Sawbill Lake. This was a large dam when I was a kid, but has been gone for at least 30 years.

Sure enough, here is the newly rehabilitated beaver house in the pond, with plenty of winter food just outside the entrance.

This is a picture of Alton Creek where it flows from Alton Lake into the pond. The water is so low this year that it doesn't even wash away the snow that falls in the creek bed.

12/16/11 - Here is the latest edition of the Cook County West End News from WTIP North Shore Community Radio. - Bill

Cindy and the dogs skiing on Sawbill Lake.

Fresh wolf tracks are always fun to see.

12/14/11 - The Ham Lake Fire in 2007 burned over 75,000 acres and destroyed or damaged 140 structures in and around the BWCA Wilderness at the end of the Gunflint Trail. It was a traumatic and dramatic event that changed lives and created dramatic change in the forest. But, for all it's destruction, no one was killed by the fire - except perhaps for one person - the man who started the fire. I recommend this heartbreaking and gripping article in the Darmouth Online Alumni Magazine. - Bill

12/12/11 - Scott "Old Scout" Harris sent us this link to Nashville songwriter Jerry Vandiver's new song inspired by a trip to visit the pictographs at Fishdance Lake. It was recorded a few weeks ago at the historic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. - Bill

12/10/11 - Here is this week's Cook County West End News from WTIP North Shore Community Radio. - Bill