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      Trip Report - Sawbill/Cherokee, Covid-19, Bucket List, Solo Loop
 
  Last Visit: 03/28/2024 06:51PM

Entry Point 38 - Sawbill Lake

Sawbill Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Tofte Ranger Station near the city of Tofte, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 25 miles. Access is a boat landing at Sawbill Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 11
Elevation: 1802 feet
Latitude: 47.8699
Longitude: -90.8858
Author Message Text
fishonfishoff
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06/13/2020 12:53PM
 
New Trip Report posted by fishonfishoff

Trip Name: Sawbill/Cherokee, Covid-19, Bucket List, Solo Loop.

Entry Point: 38

Click Here to View Trip Report

"What's the worse that could happen?"
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Spartan2
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06/13/2020 01:43PM
 
I enjoyed your trip report very much. Cherokee and that area has to be my favorite part of the park, and we have been there several times. I tried to find campsite 888 on the map, but couldn't seem to figure it out. Our favorite campsite on Cherokee is 899, but then we haven't tried them all. :-) And we never checked out campsites ahead of time, nor did we rate them on a system.


Sharing your trip with you brought back memories of our 1992 "Long Trip". Glad you had a good time and thanks for sharing it with us.
Portage99
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06/13/2020 02:50PM
 
Awesome report! I’ve been waiting to hear how you fared the latter part of the week. It’s really interesting hearing about the same weather conditions from a reverse loop!


I was disappointed by the many people on Sawbill and Burnt. If I had to do it again, I probably would spend an extra day on Temperance. Or go a different time of year. People have told me I would have no trouble finding the site on the Northern part of Sawbill but this wasn’t the case.


Glad you had some luck fishing! Great trip report. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!!


boonie
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06/13/2020 03:19PM
 
Enjoyed your report. I just did that loop in reverse last fall.
straighthairedcurly
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06/13/2020 03:47PM
 
Thanks for the report. It was an enjoyable read. And a good reminder to me to keep the gear list short for my first solo. Sounds like you had a good trip overall.
fishonfishoff
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
06/13/2020 04:06PM
 
Spartan2: "I enjoyed your trip report very much. Cherokee and that area has to be my favorite part of the park, and we have been there several times. I tried to find campsite 888 on the map, but couldn't seem to figure it out. Our favorite campsite on Cherokee is 899, but then we haven't tried them all. :-) And we never checked out campsites ahead of time, nor did we rate them on a system.



Sharing your trip with you brought back memories of our 1992 "Long Trip". Glad you had a good time and thanks for sharing it with us."

I hope I numbered it right. It is on the southwest corner of the biggest island in the southern middle part of the lake. It is about 1/2 mile West/ northwest of the Cherokee/Sitka portage.

"What's the worse that could happen?"
fishonfishoff
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06/13/2020 05:51PM
 
If I could have stayed on Cherokee and North Temperance it would have been awesome.

"What's the worse that could happen?"
Portage99
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06/13/2020 06:01PM
 
Looks like you had some insider info. I didnt know about the mine. Also curious where the one portage is from Ada to Cherokee? So, you skip the two on the map?


fishonfishoff
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06/13/2020 10:56PM
 
Portage99: "Looks like you had some insider info. I didnt know about the mine. Also curious where the one portage is from Ada to Cherokee? So, you skip the two on the map?"
From Ada to Skoop shows 2 portages but you could float part of it with a light load. In my case I just walked the entire thing.


Both this and the gold mine was info taken from this great site. It may have been a trip report someone mentioned it.


FISHONFISHOFF

"What's the worse that could happen?"
jhb8426
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06/14/2020 01:06AM
 
Portage99: "I was disappointed by the many people on Sawbill and Burnt... People have told me I would have no trouble finding the site on the Northern part of Sawbill but this wasn’t the case.
"



I've gone to Sawbill fairly regular twice a year, in July and September. The nothern campsites appear to be used extensively.
jhb8426
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06/14/2020 01:28AM
 
Regarding your GPS adventure...
My GPS always tries to send me to Sawbill Landing, some 15 to 20 miles south east of Sawbill Lake. I know the way so I just ignore the directions. I just use it for timing. At some point passed the admonitions to take some obscure road it does zero in on Sawbill lake. Odd little devices.
fishonfishoff
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06/14/2020 08:27AM
 
jhb8426: "Regarding your GPS adventure...
My GPS always tries to send me to Sawbill Landing, some 15 to 20 miles south east of Sawbill Lake. I know the way so I just ignore the directions. I just use it for timing. At some point passed the admonitions to take some obscure road it does zero in on Sawbill lake. Odd little devices."
Exactly! On the way home there was a deadspot on Sawbill Trail which is probably the reason the GPS took me to Caribou Trail on the way in.ll

"What's the worse that could happen?"
rdgbwca
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06/14/2020 08:56AM
 
I learned about the abandoned mine on this site. I was in the area but didn't do the loop. I met a tandem pair from WI on the portage that were on the Cherokee Loop though.


We affixed our headlamps and ventured into the mine. We did not get very far before we were standing in a puddle. We did not go further. It was a nice diversion after moving our gear across.


cyclones30
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06/14/2020 09:23AM
 
That's a pretty slick table setup
fishonfishoff
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06/14/2020 10:21AM
 
cyclones30: "That's a pretty slick table setup "
Another thing I learned from this site. 18 ounces with the rope. I still need to get more shower curtain rings. They are lighter than the s-hooks. This setup sure cleans up and organizes the campsites.

"What's the worse that could happen?"
Sandman2009
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06/14/2020 03:34PM
 
cyclones30: "That's a pretty slick table setup "


I agree with a Cyclones30 regarding your table and I really like your fishing setup in your canoe.
fishonfishoff
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06/14/2020 05:17PM
 
Sandman2009: "cyclones30: "That's a pretty slick table setup "



I agree with a Cyclones30 regarding your table and I really like your fishing setup in your canoe."

I just wish I felt more comfortable in the canoe. I only used this 1/2 hour the entire trip

"What's the worse that could happen?"
OldTripper
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06/15/2020 07:26AM
 
Very nice trip report, along with lots of nice photos. Very nice!
I liked your table setup as well, very clever.
Thanks for posting.
schuetpa
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
06/15/2020 08:00AM
 
Anything else you can tell me about the table. I really like it. What did you make the board out of? I am assuming it is straight on 3 sides with hooks and on the tree side it is a concave to fit the curve of a tree? I might need to make one of those looks like it would help keep things organized. Do you cook with your stove on it?
Savage Voyageur
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06/15/2020 08:25AM
 
Nice report, thanks. I’ve done that trip with my brother about ten years ago. Nice job on your tree table. I’ve been to that gold mine before too. It goes in about 50’ then it’s filled in. No big deal, not dangerous at all. It’s carved out of solid rock, not much chance of a cave in there.

"So many lakes, so little time." WWJD
lyontyl
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06/15/2020 09:58AM
 
Where did you buy that table at? I kind of want to make or buy one of those
fishonfishoff
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06/15/2020 11:05AM
 
lyontyl: "Where did you buy that table at? I kind of want to make or buy one of those"
It was just a leftover piece of 1/4" birch plywood. I cut the size to fit in my canoe "kitchen" bag, then drilled holes 1/2" in from the side. The four corner holes are just big enough to fit paracord through. I did stain and varnish it for appearance and weather protection. This trip was the first time I used it and I think it deserves to come along every time!! The shower curtain rings worked better than the s-hooks.
FISHONFISHOFF

"What's the worse that could happen?"
TomT
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06/15/2020 08:34PM
 
fishonfishoff: "Sandman2009: "cyclones30: "That's a pretty slick table setup "




I agree with a Cyclones30 regarding your table and I really like your fishing setup in your canoe."

I just wish I felt more comfortable in the canoe. I only used this 1/2 hour the entire trip"



I enjoyed your report and pics very much. I like your writing style. As for fishing in an empty canoe- what I learned to do is bring 2 roll down dry sacks. I fill with water at the shore and put them in the stern. I then use my 50 lb. border collie in the bow. Works well. :)

"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
Portage99
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06/15/2020 10:50PM
 
fishonfishoff: "lyontyl: "Where did you buy that table at? I kind of want to make or buy one of those"
It was just a leftover piece of 1/4" birch plywood. I cut the size to fit in my canoe "kitchen" bag, then drilled holes 1/2" in from the side. The four corner holes are just big enough to fit paracord through. I did stain and varnish it for appearance and weather protection. This trip was the first time I used it and I think it deserves to come along every time!! The shower curtain rings worked better than the s-hooks.
FISHONFISHOFF"



Yah, it's really cool.


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