Piragis Northwoods Company Enews
January 14, 2011
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Greetings!
More snow every day here in Ely, keeping the streets white and the trees full. Keeping the shovels flying and the groomers grooming. More on our excellent cross country trails below. People are out on the lakes, but you can imagine with all the snow, it is still slushy. Established paths and plowed roads across the bigger lakes are the way to go. It'll be some time before the perfect conditions for skate skiing fast on the open lakes come round. Life is warm and cozy here in the Northwoods. We're getting a good old fashioned winter and the smell of woodsmoke is always in the air. If you're looking for a winter get-a-way and love the outdoors then it is a time like no other to come to the end of the road! Remember that we've just got a deal on some great blem paddles, including some BB Specials. Scroll down for more info on that sale. You'll remember from earlier this year that it adds up to significant savings for you, if you don't mind a few cosmetic blems. Bending Branches makes a high quality, top-shelf paddle, and because of their high standards and the fact that wood can sometimes have hidden "blems" that don't show up until the paddle is finished, they sometimes have "seconds". These paddles are all structurally sound, they may just have a pit, knot hole or blemish that has been filled with wood putty. Anyway, I digress. Enjoy the newsletter and the NFL playoffs this weekend, if you feel like actually playing in the snow, come up and visit. We'll be open. From the end of the road,
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With skiers tromping in our shop every day we try to keep up with the current conditions. The word coming off the streets is to stay off the lakes for the near future. Sloppy wet slush has been forced up through the ice by the weight of the new snows leaving pools hidden beneath the mantle of white. This is a sure trap for snow shoers and skiers who venture out on lakes. We have all been there and it's certainly no fun so if your thinking of skiing lakes I'd suggest you rethink or wait a week or two. Slush always goes away as it finally penetrates the deep snow and freezes up into gray ice. When that happens the lakes are fun again with little snow on top to wade through. Right now stick to the land trails and around Ely there are many great ones to choose from. Here is a list of some options for this weekend around Ely where trails are broken and skiing should be good: North Arm Burntside Trail System off the Echo Tr. to the N. Arm Rd and parking by Camp Du Nord. South Farm Trails are found at the end of the Kawishiwi Tr. East of Ely take a right before you get to Winton and drive to the end. Take a map if you go there. There are no trail markers. Bear Head State Park Trails are in the park between Tower and Ely south of Hwy 169. You need a State Park sticker to go there. This is America's favorite Park and inside the range of several of the research bears studied by Lynn Rogers. Lac La Croix Trail is an obscure old logging road that leading north off the Echo Trail towards Stuart L. You'll find parking on the south side of the Echo not far past the portage to Stuart River. Stay off Stuart River if you make it that far on the LLC Trail. Map would be a good idea for this area. There are miles of groomed trails for skiing at Hidden Valley Winter Recreation Area just east of Ely. All trails are well marked and expect to see a few skiers but nothing like groomed trails in the Cities. This area has trails for skate skiing as well as kickers. If you do ski trails around Ely please stop in at our store to let us know where you have been and what the conditions are like so we can update others. Steve Piragis Stop in the store at 105 North Central Avenue or call today to make winter gear and tent reservations and to plan your winter camping trip. Please email us with your gear and tent reservations today. Include the items you need, the number of days and dates for which you'll need the gear. Stop in at Piragis at 105 North Central Avenue in Ely if you want to rent something spur of the moment. Call Michelle for reservations: 1-800-223-6565. |
| News from the Outfitting Desk |
Boundary Waters permit info:
Lottery applications are accepted only through Saturday, January 15th. The application process has been going on since December 1st and now we are on the last days for the early trip planners. Getting in the lottery is the best way to get the permit you want for the day you want. Bert will be here on Saturday to help all the last minute trippers who do want to apply.
After the lottery takes place, we will be able to get permits on a first-come, first-served basis starting on January 20th.
Quetico permit info:
For the paddlers who have requested to take a trip into Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park, we have some good news. Starting next week, we should be able to reserve the permits that have been requested. There still is a 5-month in advance stipulation, but we are glad that the reservation service is now up and running.
Guided Group Trips:
A couple of our trips are already getting full and here is the info if you are thinking about being a participant.
There are only two spots left on the Cliff Jacobson/Steve Johnson journey. Three spots are available for the Smallmouth Fishing adventure.
You can see all of our group trips on our site at:
http://www.piragis.com/outfitting/guidedgrouptrips.html
Sign up soon to reserve your seat on one of our popular adventures this summer!!
Thanks to all of you who have set up your 2011 trips with us so far. It's never too early to reserve permits and canoes. Remember that we have many different models of canoes (including two NEW models from Wenonah: the Canak solo and the 17' Wenonah tandem). If you are interested in trying a specific canoe on your adventure, set up your reservation early so you get to choose the canoe you want to paddle.
Call or email Bert or Drew to plan a trip into the Boundary Waters or Quetico wilderness in 2011!!!
Let it snow!!
We have had a good amount of snow this winter so hopefully it will help with water levels once we can paddle again. Come on up to Ely and the Superior National Forest and enjoy snowshoeing and XC skiing in this fantastic wilderness setting. We rent what you need to get out there and enjoy a day in the snow!
Drew Brockett
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Trip Spotlight:
In the Pawprints of Boundary Waters Bears
Post Lily Pad Picnic July 24 - 29
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Trip Dates: July 24 - 29 Trip Cost: $1500 (+ tax) 5 day guided canoe trip in the Boundary Waters First and Last Night hotel room in Ely: A special guided Boundary Waters canoe trip for Lily fans right after the Lilypad Picnic this summer. The group is limited to 7 fans and two guides. The trip will be geared to novice paddlers but will get back into deep wilderness. $500 of the fee from each tripper will go to the North American Bear Center as a donation. Your trip begins and ends with nights spent in Ely where we encourage you to experience the fine dining of our favorite restaurant, the Chocolate Moose! Don't miss the chance to be a part of this adventure. Enjoy a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters with top-notch gear and canoes, meet new friends, and help out the North American Bear Center all at the same time! See our webpage about the trip here: http://www.piragis.com/outfitting/lilypadblackbeartrip.htmlSo, if you plan on coming to Ely for the Lilypad Picnic, why not spend the entire week here with a BWCA canoe trip that helps out the Bear Center. Call 800-223-6565 to reserve your spot today! And speaking of bears, Go Chicago Bears!!! Drew (originally from Chicago :-) Here are some cool links! Live Den Cam featuring video of Lily and Hope our favorite bears. http://www.bear.org/livecams/lily-hope-cam.htmlLynn Rodgers on his Research (informative video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH2h89I2-jc |
| Yes, we've still got some Paddles on Sale |
Discounted Bending Branches Paddles in Stock!
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Your Friends in the
Great Northwoods | 105 North Central Avenue
Ely, MN 55731
1-800-223-6565 |
We Are Solar Powered
Click the link above and you'll find a graph of our energy production and consumption here at Piragis in Ely.
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Items on Sale
Reactor Stove boils 1 liter of water in under 3 minutes!
The fastest, most fuel efficient windproof integrated stove system available. State of the art and high efficency cookware are combined into one compact, easy-to-use system. The Radiant burner is enclosed by heat exchanger for total wind protection. Lid and handle lock in place for safe and easy transport. Weighs only 21 oz!
List Price: $149.99
Your Price: $109.99
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Packtowl UltraLite XL
The lightest, most compact microfiber towel on the market, perfect for camping, travel, or any situation where weight and space are at a premium. It absorbs water quickly and dries in a snap. Available in four sizes and two solid colors.
Extra-compact: Folds up small for trips when space is limited.
Superlight: Even the largest size weighs less than four ounces, while the smallest comes in at well under an ounce.
Fast-absorbing: Soaks up water like a sponge.
Quick-drying: Wrings out almost completely dry.
27" x 50"
3.6 oz.
List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $17.97
click to buy
Basswood Lake Cedar Necklace
Designed by Lissa from Silverwares, this pendant is inspired by the largest cedar tree in the country, found along the shores of Basswood Lake in Rice Bay. Handstrung on a beautiful 18" necklace of silver tubes, lapis lazuli and glass seed beads, this piece is a perfect gift. It measures 1" x 3/4".
List Price: $85.00
Your Price: $65.00
click to buy
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