BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 09 2024
Entry Point 38 - Sawbill Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 11
Elevation: 1802 feet
Latitude: 47.8699
Longitude: -90.8858
Sawbill Lake - 38
Father & son on Vern
Entry Date:
June 22, 2012
Entry Point:
Homer Lake
Number of Days:
5
Group Size:
2
I was up at 8:00 a.m. It was an interesting night. I was awakened occasionally by a mouse climbing on my tent fly. I’d slap the rain fly through my tent and send the mouse flying. It seemed as though I could hear a faint, "Wheeee!" when I did it, which may explain the multiple occurrences.
It was windy all night long. Not a good sign. Usually the wind dies at night and picks up again sometime after noon, ... right? It was warm though. It must have been in the high 40s. Aside from the mouse amusement park, I slept well. In the morning I did see a deer tick on my tent. I didn’t know they were up this far north. Perhaps it was with the mouse, and like us, was up here on vacation.
Breakfast that morning was blueberry pancakes, bacon, and coffee. How could it get better? Maple syrup? Yep. We had that, too.
The wind was bad today. We’re not technically wind-bound. If we HAD to go somewhere we probably could, but it would not be fun. None of us elect to paddle out in it to take a day trip. Instead I read, collected firewood, and generally hung around camp. Jim and Larry went for a hike; Larry to get some pictures; Jim to act as his model. (Note: Jim’s board name is Jim/WI, but on trips he has been dubbed with many others including Cookie, Bow Weight, Froggy, and now Cover Girl. I’m sure there are others.). Steve and I saw two grouse in camp while the other two were off on their photo shoot.
It is a warm day. We figure the high must be in the high 60s. Larry pulls out a thermometer. It is 73.
As evening approaches we decide to try a paddle even though the wind is still blowing strong. The paddle is very short for me. The others make it longer. The Encounter really likes to catch the wind!! I was OK (not great, but OK) when it was loaded, but when I tried to paddle it empty in that wind it was a handful! It just wanted to spin.
Steve was out a little longer and then came back to keep me company. When Larry and Jim made it back they reported that others were in the south campsite on Mesaba. More people.
Jim made one of his famous dinners. Always good stuff. We have a hard time staying awake but weredetermined to toast Wendal and Katlin at 9:00 p.m. Their platyfest was going on in Madison.
After the toast, it was off to bed. No squirrel incident tonight. I guess the ol’ schoolgirl scream is an effective deterrent.
Again, it was windy all night.
