July 2015
Greetings Fred,  
All is well at the Dow camp.  Hope you are enjoying your summer and getting to spend lots of time in a national forest or grassland near you.  We want to give you a heads-up - attempts are being made to move national forests and grasslands from federal to state control.  We do have an opinion on this but do not consider this newsletter the place to express it.  We just want to give you a heads-up that there are people who want to take such action.  To participate in a debate on this subject, go to our forum.  
Notable Campground - Sawbill Lake

Last year (April 16, 2014 to be exact), the National Forest Foundation (NFF) published a blog titled 14 Best Places to Canoe and Kayak on National Forests.  Number 1 on that list was the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in the Superior National Forest (MN).  We concur.  BWCAW is fantastic and should be on everyone's "bucket list."  (Click here for an album of our daytrip into BWCAW.)  And, when you go, give Sawbill Lake campground serious consideration.  This campground is located next to the 765-acre Sawbill Lake on the edge of the BWCAW.  All its campsites are a short walk from the crystal clear water.  From the water's edge you will be looking into BWCAW where moose and loons roam free and French Voyager once called home. Sawbill Lake campground is a basic campground providing level campsites equipped with tables and fire rings, vault toilets and solar-powered water spigots.  The campground's "canoe access" was a CCC project as are many of the BWCAW portages.  In other words, Sawbill Lake campground has been an entry point to the BWCAW even before it was named Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  

Don't own a canoe or not interested in hauling your canoe cross country?  Never fear.  Canoes and other necessary equipment are available for rent at the conveniently located Sawbill Canoe Outfitters.  Also available from them are delicious hot showers, firewood, limited groceries, gift items and permits to the BWCAW.  Sawbill Canoe Outfitters even have experienced, knowledgeable guides that will  take you out for a one day paddle and longer if you choose. In our opinion, a major problem with Sawbill Lake campground is it is so wonderful, you might forego discovering any of the other 13 best places to canoe and kayak on national forests suggested by the NFF.
A campsite at Sawbill Lake Campground
View of Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters provides a variety of products and services
A Great Adventure Found 
While going through the process of updating Camping with Suzi, we came across a "report" Fred wrote about twenty-years ago about our 1994 camping adventures in Canada's Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.  It was a great adventure that lead rekindled Fred's love of camping and our current adventure researching national forests and grasslands across the United States.
Give a child a camera and watch for the magic
Have you ever considered letting your children take some photographs?  With digital photography it's so easy.  No film to load.  No developing required.  And the "Auto" function makes picture-taking simple.  You might be surprised by the quality of the photos.  And the children might be surprised by this new way to look at their surroundings.  Who knows, iIt could lead to a career or a great hobby. Check out Adventures in Nature: 2015 High School Nature Photo Contest to see were it could lead for your child.
More Bear Boxes to be installed
It seems bear/human "interchanges" are getting more frequent. Such interchanges are a huge concern for the Forest Service. They want both bears
Campsite with Bear Box for safe food storage
and humans to share the forest with no drama. To reduce the risk, the Forest Service is planning on installing an additional 154 food storage containers (bear boxes) in Shoshone, Caribou, Targhee Bridger, and Teton National Forest campgrounds.

No bear boxes in the campgrounds you frequent? ! Here are a few tips from the Forest Service:
Do not, at any time, leave food and food garbage out and unattended.
Do not, at any time, stow food in your tent.
Do not mistake an ice chest or cooler for a bear box. To a bear it looks like lunch.
Do not put your ice chest or cooler on a seat in the car. Always stow out of sight in a hard-sided vehicle.

Remember, food-conditioned behavior cannot usually be changed so, please, do not contribute to a bear learning bad habits.
Your involvement is important
 In June, we attended a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) meeting.  Not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon but we felt it was important for the RRAC to see there are citizens who care about our national forests.  You don't have to go to RRAC meetings but if you hear that a national forest is having an open house or is looking for comments from the public, please, give them your two cents.  Even if not asked for it, let the Forest Service hear from you.  Good, bad, whatever, give the forest folks an earful.
Camping Tip
For hikes, take ample water (one broad rule-of-thumb is 16 to 20 ounces per hour of moderate to strenuous summertime activity) and a dried fruit and nut mixtures with high amounts of potassium, sodium, protein, carbs and calories to snack on.  After your hike, drink some chocolate milk to help muscles recover quicker.   



Suzi and Fred Dow
Moon Canyon Publishing LLC
520-432-5783 
 
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