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Piragis Northwoods Company
Outfitting Enews
December 6, 2011 |
| Beaverhouse to Moose Lake Trip Log |
Like many of you, I am starting to look forward to next year's Boundary Waters trips. Realizing that my next canoe adventure is still roughly six months away, I thought it might be fun to share my 2011 trips with you. It is my hope that after reading, you will share your 2011 adventures with us. Enjoy!
I get out into the wilderness many times each summer, but the trip I look forward to most is the Quetico trip I take in the spring. This year Zane, Wade, and Vidmar (aka BLD) from the outfitting crew, Josh a good friend of Wade's, and I made up our motley crew. The plan was to get a ride up to Beaverhouse Lake and paddle our way back to our parked car at the Moose Lake landing.
May 21, 2011
We met at 6:00AM by the outfitting barn at Piragis. We are lucky to have a couple of great friends who were willing to drive us the 4 or so hours that it takes to get up to Beaverhouse and then another 4 hours back home. Of course we made it worth their time, but their generosity doesn't go unappreciated.
I am not sure what time we got to Beaverhouse. I was too excited to remember look at the clock in the van, and a watch is one thing I don't carry with me when I am escaping into the woods. We made the short portage to the lake, said goodbye to our drivers, and hit the trail.
It was overcast, cool, and we had a pretty strong wind coming from the east. Paddling south from the put-in to the ranger station was a bit of challenge as we had a crosswind pushing us the whole way. We made to the ranger station without incident, got the necessary permits and payments taken care of, and then were off to the heart of the Quetico wilderness.
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To finish reading go to our Blog |
| Permit Reservation Update |
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As many of you may have heard the permitting process will be a little different in 2012. This is what I received directly from USFS in the Fall Edition of the BWCAW Cooperator News:
Eliminating the lottery for BWCAW permits simplifies the reservation process for all but a few entry points and allows for immediate confirmation of a visitor's permit.
For 2012, the process for making reservations is as follows: The lottery will be retained for Fall Lake entry points D and 24 and Moose Lake entry points F, G, and 25. The lottery applications for these five entry points can be made from December 19, 2011 to January 19, 2012. The lottery will be run on January 20th. Reservations for remaining permits for these five entry points can be made on a first-come, first-served basis starting January 25th at 9:00 a.m. CST.
For all entry points, the call center and website go live at 9:00 a.m. CST on January 25, 2012. Reservations can be made by phone at 1-877-444-6777 from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. CST or online at recreation.gov 24 hours a day. This first-come, first-served system will be used by all BWCAW visitors from January through September 30 of each year. In short, what this means is that if you are looking for a permit for Fall Lake or Moose Lake, you can still use the lottery function. Reserving all other entry points is first-come, first-served starting at 9:00 a.m. CST on January 25, 2012.
Don't worry, Drew and I will be here all winter to help with your permit and routing needs. Don't hesitate to call or email Drew or Adam for help reserving your permit. |
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Keep an eye out for our Guided Group Trips |
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Here is a creative gift idea for a Boundary Waters tripper you care about. Sign your loved ones up for the trip of a lifetime!
Each year we offer several Guided Group Canoe Trips throughout the paddling season. These trips are Guided and Fully Outfitted. This means all you have to bring is your clothing, personal toiletries, fishing gear, and we do the rest. We provide lodging in Ely at the beginning and the end of the trip, permits, shuttles, guides, and all of your equipment.
We get great people from all over the country and it makes for a great group dynamic.
We do not have our full list of group trips done yet, but this is what the schedule looks like so far:
Smallmouth Fishing Canoe Trip: June 2 - 8
Women Exploring Wilderness: July 7 - 13
Howling with the Wolves Canoe Trip: August 25 - 31
Autumn Colors & Wilderness Wildlife Trip: September 22-28
***Keep your eyes open, more trips are coming soon***
If one of these trips sounds right for you, give Drew Brockett or Adam Macht a call at 1-800-223-6565 to get more details and to sign up. |
| Great Deals On Used Gear!!! |
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Sierra Designs Bedouin 6
Thinking of getting a tent for the family? Now is the time!
We only have a couple left, so don't hesitate.
Retail Price: $505, Used Price: $300, OUR SALE PRICE: $225
(All prices include footprint.)
 | | (Rain fly and footprint not pictured but included) |
MTI Cruiser Pro Life Vest
Retail Price: $75, Used Price: $25. That's a killer deal!
Granite Gear Superior One Pack
We still have a few of our favorite portage packs available.
Retail price: $209.95, Used Price: $145.
Don't miss out on the great prices for our Used Gear
Call Drew or Adam at 1-800-223-6565 to place an order. |
Winter is wilderness at its most wonderful; its most wild. Experience the towering pines laden with snow, the thundering groans of the frozen lakes, the secretive tracks and trails of wildlife, the thrill of skiing. At Piragis Northwoods Company we rent winter gear and tents you can trust.
It was -15 degrees the other night. We are making ice up here in Ely! Call or email Michelle at 1-800-223-6565 to take care of your winter camping needs. |
| Some of our favorite books |
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These books were recommended to me by our Bookstore Manager Anna. I asked her what books people should be reading before they go on a BWCA trip. From an extensive list, I chose to share these two with you, as they sounded good to me.
A Boundary Waters History: Canoeing Across Time
by Stephen Wilbers
Stephen Wilbers's account reaches back to the glaciers that first carved out the Boundary Waters and to the original inhabitants, as well as to generations of wilderness explorers, both past and present. This story captures the untold broader narrative of the region, as well as a thousand different details sure to be appreciated by fellow adventurers. It is sure to give you a new perspective on your next Boundary Waters trip.
A Wonderful Country: The Quetico-Superior Stories of Bill Magie
Transcribed, edited, and arranged by Dave Olesen
Bill's stories originate from Canoe Country, but they are not dry facts from the past. (Some would argue that there are few facts to be found in these stories.) Instead, they are full of the elements that still draw us to this wilderness today - wolf howls, sparkling water streams, storms, solitude, stillness, adventurous undertakings, relics of bygone days, campfires, and camaraderie. Take this book on your next trip and image Bill has joined you, spinning tales of lumberjacks and trappers, surveying the border, flying bush planes, and hunting and fishing. Paddlers will find familiar names - Curtain Falls, Prarie Portage, Granite River, Knife Lake, Basswood, and Saganaga to name a few.
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Check out our online Bookstore for more great reads! |
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Last year's rental fleet is disappearing, but we do still have a few of our used canoes and kayaks left. There are a couple of 2 year old Minnesota 3's going for as low as $1600!! That's over 45% off the sticker price!
Click HERE to see all of our great deals |
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Your Friends in the
Great Northwoods | |
105 North Central Avenue
Ely, MN 55731
1-800-223-6565
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