Saganaga Lake Winter Population
Almost every morning on our Marine Radio we hear chatter from the folks who are on the Canadian side of Saganaga Lake. Since the Minnesota side of Sag is in the BWCA there are no cabins allowed but in Canada there are a fair number of cabins. Most of the folks just use their cabins in the summer because they aren’t winterized, but there are a handful that come up in the winter as well.
It is this handful of people who greet each other and talk about the their daily plans. First and foremost in their discussion is the weather. "We had 5 below here last night, how about you?" "The sun sure is shining this morning and there’s no wind." It’s nice to hear about the wind because where Voyageur Canoe Outfitters sits we can’t really tell how windy it is outside. It’s also fun to hear about their plans for the day and who’s coming or going on the lake. Many times we know this information already because they park their vehicles and leave their snowmobiles at Voyageur.
This morning the topic got a little more interesting between two of the long time Saganaga people. I actually turned the radio up instead of down for a change. They were talking about how they remembered when the Gunflint Trail was only paved up to Swamper Lake and how sometimes during the winter the kids would have to get out of the car and sit on the trunk in order to make it up the hill by Gunflint Lake. It was fun to listen to them talk about the old days.
My kids don’t complain about the long bus ride to school as they have grown up doing it. There was a time not so long ago there were children who lived on the Canadian side of Saganaga. Each school morning they would either travel by boat or snowmobile five miles down the lake to the public landing before getting on the school bus for the hour and a half ride.
Saganaga Lake is a world of its own. The people who live and visit there are unique and experience an interesting lifestyle. If you ever want to check it out in the summertime then let us know. There are some great cabins to rent up there but there aren’t modern conveniences. But that’s what makes it all the more special.