Piragis Northwoods Company

Outfitting Enews, March 22, 2012

Greetings!

Spring is here! The fever has hit.

As I write this, Steve Piragis is out on either the Stuart River or the Little Indian Souix.  He's got the fever bad and the retreating and rotting ice can't disappear fast enough.  With the sun shining and only rumors of rain showers on the horizon, he hit the soft liquid for the first time.

A couple of days ago I shot some video and stills at the Garden Lake bridge outside of Ely down the Fernberg.  I also shot some footage at the public landing on Shagawa Lake here in town.

Black, rotting, old ice.  The next day it rained for close to 24 hours, steady, not hard, but a good soak down.  The ice is deteriorating at record speed.  We've got about two weeks between us and the previous record ice out from 2010.

If you've got the time, get up here to Ely and take part in some of the earliest ever canoe trips.  We'll supply canoes, paddles, lifevests and anything else you need, just call Adam and Drew today.

Give Steve Piragis a ring this weekend and ask him about how his earliest Boundary Waters Paddle EVER went.  We'll post pictures on Facebook later.

Hit the road, come visit, you won't be disappointed.  You'll beat the rush and experience a true rarity.

Rotten Ice 2012 March 20 Ely Minnesota
Rotten Ice 2012 March 20 Ely Minnesota
 
Sincerely,
Tim Stouffer
Piragis Northwoods Company
 
Outfitting Notes

Thanks! 

We wanted to send out a Thank You to those of you who visited us at Canoecopia.  We had a great time at the show and it was good to see you in person.  The shows are always a blast, looking at all of the newest gear and canoes, but the best part is talking to all of our old friends and making some new ones.  Thanks for a great show!

 

If you didn't get a chance to visit us in Madison, we will be at the Spring Outdoor Adventure Expo in Minneapolis from April 27-29.  Mark your calendars today!  

 

Here are a few of the people who stopped by with Ely or Piragis garb!

 

Book your permits today!

This warm weather seems to have people thinking about their Boundary Waters trips.  It is a good idea to get your permit booked sooner rather than later to make sure you get the entry you are looking for.  Call 800-223-6565 or email Adam or Drew for help choosing a route and reserving your permit.

 

Early Season Trips

Though the ice isn't quite out yet, this warm weather has us all getting ready to paddle.  We are starting to get a couple of our rental boats ready just in case you wanted to do an impromptu early Spring trip.  We will let you know as soon as the ice is out, so keep an eye on Facebook, our Blog, or future newsletters. 

 

 

We also wanted to pass along a couple of quick reminders for Spring trips.

  • The water is COLD! Make sure you wear your PFD.
  • Paddling gloves can be nice to help keep hands warm.  The Chota Neo Fleece Glove is a favorite around the shop.
  • Pack for cooler weather.  You never know if you will get a cold snap while you are out there.
  • Have proper footwear.  The Chota Quetico Trekkers with the Hippies are a great combo!
  • Have a spare set of dry clothes just in case you get wet, and dress in layers.
  • Like any wilderness trip, be sure to tell friends and family your travel plans.
  • Drink plenty of water.  If its cold you might not feel as thirsty as if you were sweating in the sun, but you still need plenty of fluids.
  • The walleye opener is May 12.
  • The woods are still dry so be careful with campfires and make sure they are completely out before you leave them unattended.

Forest Service

The USFS is starting to get ready for the upcoming canoeing season.  They have a two crews of 15 (split up of course to stay under the maximum group size of 9) getting ready to head out to the fire area to begin work.  They have busy Spring ahead of them, but this warm weather will help them get an early start.  Remember there are a few areas that have changed their entry quotas and a couple of areas that are closed.  Click HERE for the latest details or give Drew or Adam a call with any questions.

 

Call 800-223-6565 or email Drew or Adam to start planning your next Boundary Waters adventure!!

 

Follow our Blog!

We are excited to have Cliff Jacobson as a regular contributor to our blog.  Click HERE to follow our blog for canoeing and camping tips, trip logs, and other interesting information and pictures.

 

This is Cliff's latest post:

 

Old Ideas Die Hard -- Why you need an interior groundcloth

By Cliff Jacobson

 

Old ideas die hard, and when it comes to camping, the hardest to die is that you should place a plastic groundcloth UNDER the floor of your tent. This is dead wrong, and akin to pitching the tent on a slab of concrete. Rainwater will flow between the impervious groundsheet and floor, pool there, and be pressure wicked by body weight into the sleeping compartment. Then, you'll really have a sponge party!

 

 

For decades I've advised people to put the waterproof plastic groundsheet INSIDE the tent, not outside as recommended by tent makers and so-called experts. I've hammered on this in my books because an inside groundsheet is the most important thing you can do to stay dry in a heavy rain where flowing groundwater floods your tent. The one exception to this rule is in winter where the groundcloth goes under the floor to keep the floor from freezing to the ground.

 

Click HERE to continue reading

Snowbank Lake to the Gunflint (Round Lake) Feb. 10 - 13 by John McCarthy

We also encourage you to send us your trip stories to post to our blog. The next best thing to being out in the woods is sharing your experiences with others who are interested and can relate. Email us to share your trip stories!

 

Our friend John McCarthy shared his winter adventure with us.

 

Snowbank Lake to the Gunflint (Round Lake)

By John McCarthy

 

Day 1. - Feb. 10th

After a good nights sleep at the Paddle Inn in Ely and a quick breakfast I'm racing down the Fernberg Road on my way to the boat landing on Snowbank Lake as the sun rises. The temperature was around -13 with a strong wind out of the west. Before a trip I usually have a few extra things that I call my "game time decision bag". This bag usually consists of a few items which I could not decide whether to bring along or not, which I usually end up leaving for a last minute decision. In this bag I had tent, a pair of boots and my warmest pair of mittens. I skied out into Snowbank for about two minutes and realized that my hands were freezing . I stopped for a few seconds to think about whether or not I should go back to the car and get those extra mittens and abruptly dropped my sled and headed straight back to the car. At the car I also decided to take those extra pair of boots but chose to leave the tent. I ended up wearing the mittens almost the entire trip and the boots where warm and comfy around camp and I even wore them to bed my final night out.

 

I was able to follow a dog sled trail across Snowbank, almost the entire first day with the exception of Fraser Lake. The winter use trail on the east side of Disappointment lake was so well packed and flat that I was able to take off my ski boots and put on my regular winter boots with no snowshoes and stroll down the trail all the way to the junction with Alworth Lake with little effort. It was quite the difference from the previous year.

 

Click HERE to continue reading

A note from the retail store

So, in our newsletter we like to keep you up to date with what is happening in Ely and the surrounding area. Well, this week I wanted to take the opportunity to give you a little insight into what happens inside the actual building known as the Piragis Northwoods Company Retail Store.

 

A good chunk of you have only visited Ely in the busy hustle bustle of the summer. Winter is a slightly different animal. Things slow down enough that our high time staff of 20+, goes to the bare bones staff of 4! It is the BEST time of the year to stop in and shop! No crowds, a ton of fantastic sales and hands on shopping help from one of our retail staff that loves to shop! Our retail store really is a little gem. Our staff loves their jobs and is actually HAPPY to be here and to see YOU.

 

During the summer months, we keep our Gear Room, Clothing Department and Gift Room stocked full of everything you could need. Those rooms don't disappear over the winter months! We still stock them full, despite the crowd decline. We rely on local customers and winter visitors (and the catalog) to keep us running throughout the slow times, and pride ourselves on being one of the only shops in Ely to stay open year round.

 

What does this really mean? It means that we continue to sell great names like The North Face, Under Armour, Prana, Smartwool, Sorel (just to name a few), and blow out what is left over at the end of the winter. We are probably the only place you can find those name brands and in season stock at 30-40% OFF.

 

If we had the capabilities, we could offer you our whole store online, but we are still relatively small and are not there - YET. Now, you still have to do it the old fashioned way-get in your car and visit, or, maybe you have something specific in mind? Call us! Ask for the retail floor and describe the must-have item you spotted somewhere (and now can't remember where) and see if we have it. That is a fantastic thing about being small-we can actually look around the store and help you find the item you are looking for. At our store, you can continue to support Ely and our shop and talk to an actual human being who LOVES the outdoors as much as you do, while getting items that you want. Sounds like a win win! Are we THAT bored? NO, and Yes. No, we would give you the same service in full blown busy season - Yes, we do have some extra time in March and April. LOL

 

Didn't "think to think of us" before? Well, put us at the top of your list, we are always here to help! Live in Arkansas and can't find base layer to save your life? From Ohio and can't find a Wenonah dealer? Call us, we have it. Just like our Outfitting department in summer, the retail store rents gear in winter. We rent winter tents, snowshoes, cross country skis, sleeping bags, and then sell it all after one season. Toss me an email, we might have a deal on something you just can't pass up. We are not just a catalog, outfitter, or a newsletter with links to information; you have a FULL OUT RETAIL STORE at your disposal!

 

So much gets lost in the busyness of life, in every aspect. Sometimes we forget to laugh a little, smile a little more, and just enjoy the interaction we have with each other. Here at Piragis, we try and bring a little bit of that back to your trip/shopping experience.

 

 

Hope to hear or see you very soon!

Michelle Zupancich

[email protected]

Retail Manager

 

Quetico Kayaking Trip

August 11 - 17

Explore beautiful Basswood Lake with one of the most experienced Quetico paddlers around. Our guide Dave Maynard spent 20 years as a Conservation Officer for Quetico Park, paddling and portaging his way throughout most of the park. He has been to almost every lake with a portage to it, and even a few that don't. After that portion of his career, he became the Assistant Park Superintendent, learning the ins and outs of the parks operation and management until his recent retirement a few years ago. If you want to see this special place in Ontario like few have and learn from one of the best, join Dave and fellow kayakers on a journey that will be more than memorable.

 

 

Our route is built for a kayaking trip--light on portages. Our time will be spent exploring Basswood by kayak. If fishing is your thing, there will be plenty of time to wet a line for some Canadian Walleyes, feisty Smallmouth Bass, or big Northern Pike. There will be ample photo opportunities for the wilderness photographers out there and plenty of time to relax at camp.

 

You will meet the guide in Ely the night before the trip to go through the gear, talk about the route, and meet your fellow trippers. This trip comes with our Full Outfitting Package so you know you are getting the best gear, kayaks, and delicious food. All you will need to bring are your personal items and fishing gear. We will also have a motel room for you before and after your time in the wilderness.

 

See the magnificent Quetico Park that you have been dreaming of through your own eyes, but with the guidance of Dave Maynard, a retired Quetico Park Conservation Officer and Assistant Park Superintendent.  Its a perfect trip for the kayaker who has been looking to explore Quetico!

 

Email Adam or Drew for more info or to sign up!

Spring Migration Has Begun

Along with the unseasonably warm temperatures and early snow melt here in the northland, the birds have started to arrive in the Ely area. During the last week or so, Canada Geese have been spotted as well as Swans. The Swans could be either migrating Tundra Swans on their way farther north, or Trumpeter Swans that have been reintroduced to Minnesota and now nest in scattered areas throughout the state.

 

 

 

The Shagawa River in Winton is always some of the first water to open in our area and migrating and resident ducks have been showing up including Common Goldeneye, Mallard and Ring-necked Ducks. Bald Eagles are here, paired up and hanging around their nests. Some songbirds are also moving on up. Some of our early arrivals have been Herring Gulls, American Crows, American Robins, Winter Wrens, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Song Sparrows and migrating Dark-eyed Juncos. Our resident Black-capped Chickadees are singing their courtship songs. 

 

Amazingly enough some lakes could be ice-free any day, and I anticipate the report of our first returning Common Loons shortly!To me it's the returning birds that officially announce the arrival of spring.

 

Steve Schon

Outfitter's Choice: New Catalog Items
We have a ton of great new items in our catalog.  These are a couple of our favorites.
 
$109.00
This light, compact, and portable grill gives you a nice stable cooking surface on your Boundary Waters and Quetico trips.

$24.95
A great way to catch a snack before dinner!  Its collapsible design allows it to slide nicely into an pack.
 
$39.95
This quality knife has a built-in firestarter!  It even works well when wet.
Tripper's Pictures
Renee's Artwork:  Loon's Fleeing Fire
Jami's Pictures:
Email us your pictures or artwork to have them included in our newsletter!
Gear Room Assistant Needed
Retail store looking for a Gear Head!  The Gear Room Assistant is a seasonal position and will help the gear buyer with all retail floor responsibilities such as: stocking, inventory, cleaning, and of course, providing exceptional customer service.  Please send a letter of application and your resume to our retail store manager, Michelle via email.
 
 

 

Your Friends in the
 Great Northwoods
105 North Central Avenue
Ely, MN 55731
1-800-223-6565
 

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Rental Wenonah MN 3
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Smallmouth Bass Fishing Canoe Trip

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Fire Ecology Canoe Camping Trip (NEW!)

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Lazy on the Lake Canoe Base Camping (NEW!)

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Quetico Canoe Trip

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Quetico Kayaking Trip

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