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Piragis Northwoods Company
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September 4, 2012 Email Newsletter
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Greetings!
Today is the first day of school here in Minnesota. It was a beautifully warm weekend here in Ely, to end Summer with a bang. We could use some rain as is evidenced by a 30 acre wildfire that is smoldering near Cummings Lake (more on that below).
It has been a wonderful season, but remember that some of the best tripping of the year is still out there in September. No Bugs, Great Fishing, Cool Nights, Refreshing Swims and Fabulous Fall Colors all add up to one of the most spectacular times to be in the Boundary Waters.
Ely celebrates the Harvest Moon Festival this weekend. For more on that, scroll down and read the rest of the newsletter.
 We hope to see you soon in beautiful Ely, Minnesota! From the End of the Road, Tim Stouffer, Marketing Director and Webmaster Piragis Northwoods Company |
Update on Boundary Waters Fire near Cummings Lake
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UPDATE as of 5 p.m. September 3rd
LOCATION: Township 64, Range 14, Section 28 (southwest corner), on a peninsula separating the west end of Cummings from the northeast side of Otter Lake.
DATE DETECTED: September 2, 2012
SIZE: Estimated at thirty plus acres
CAUSE: Unknown
AGENCY: Superior National Forest, West Zone
ASSIGNED RESOURCES: One Type 3 helicopter, and fourteen firefighters.
SPECIAL MESSAGES: Control line on the eastern flank was completed today. Air resources held the western flank last night and this morning. This afternoon, a hand crew began constructing line on the western flank from Otter north to the head of the fire. Another crew is building line from Cummings Lake west toward the head of the fire to contain the northern flank.
CLOSURES: There are no official closures at this time; however, camping on Otter Lake is not recommended. An official list of closures if there are any, will be added to this update tomorrow.
Additional Updates:
Fort Frances #53 (Norway Point) Fire
Fort Frances #53, the Canadian Fire on Norway Point of Basswood Lake, moved farther to the east today. It remains on the Canadian side of the international boundary. U.S. and Canadian crews are monitoring it closely.
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Paddling the Pagami Creek Fire Burn Area
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Recently Drew and Adam and Agnes paddled and portaged into the area affected by last year's forest fire. These pictures are from the portage (approx. 280 rods) from Clearwater to Judd on the Northeastern route to Rock Island Lake. Notice the abundance of flowers and green undergrowth. Drew noted quite a few trees with split bark their entire length. Very interesting shots!
We're also posting a link to one of our friend's blog. She wrote about a recent trip and posted pictures of a different area of the burn. Here's the link to the Blog titled Paddling the Burn. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to send us pictures and links to your blogs if you write about your Boundary Waters Trips.
Email to our webmaster, Tim.
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19th Annual Harvest Moon Festival This Weekend
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DATES: September 7th - 9th, 2012
DESCRIPTION: 125+ Art & Craft Exhibitors, Demonstrations, Food, Musical Entertainment, All-American Lumberjack Show.
LOCATION: Whiteside Park (between 7th & 8th Avenues on Sheridan Street)
HOURS: Friday, September 7 noon - 6 pm
Saturday, September 8 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, September 9 10 am - 4 pm
ADMISSION: Free
MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT:
Spiritwood Music of The Boundary Waters
Three days of live acoustic music featuring Pat Surface and The Boundary Water Boys, and Donna Surface, performance artist in sign. Uplifting performances featuring Celtic, Bluegrass, and Folk.
Lumberjack Shows:
All-American Lumberjack Show: The legend lives on with the All- American Lumberjack Show ..... Two teams, ten exciting lumberjack events and everyone comes out a winner.
Kid's Lumberjack Sport Camp --- free to youngsters young and old who are taught how to log roll and x-cut saw by the Pro's.
Saturday, September 8 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm
Sunday, September 9 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm
PRIMITIVE ENCAMPMENT: Demonstrations
Birch bark basketry, wool spinning, spinning angora rabbit hair, blacksmithing, trapping, leatherworking, bead working, dream catchers, spirit gourds, carving, knife making, tomahawk throwing, fire starting and more!
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Canoe & Kayak Warehouse Clearance SALE!
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| These boats are priced to move. Pick them up in Ely or call Steve Schon today to find out prices for a ride to your door. 1-800-223-6565 get's your discounted canoe or kayak today -- first call, first serve.
Tandem Canoes:
Wen. 17' Sundowner Royalex Spruce 67 lbs $1499 SALE $1125
Wen. 16' Adirondack Royalex Burg. 65 lbs $1399 SALE $1099
Wen. 15' Backwater Kevlar UL Core Skin 52 lbs $2459 SALE $1899
Kayaks:
CD Solstice GT fiberglass red/smoke 54 lbs $2999 SALE $2249
CD Gulfstream fiberglass blue/smoke 51 lbs $3249 SALE $2449
CD Double Vision hybrid smoke/smoke 60 lbs $2999 SALE $2349
CD Vision 150 hybrid smokesmoke 45 lbs $2499 SALE $1849
CD Vision 135 poly yellow 50 lbs $1099 SALE $799
CD Vision 130 hybrid lg/smoke 33 lbs $2099 SALE $1599
CD Vision 120 hybrid red/smoke 28 lbs $1999 SALE $1549
CD Kestrel 140 w/rudder poly orange 58 lbs $1199 SALE $899
CD Kestrel 120 hybrid yellow/smoke 38 lbs $1999 SALE $1599
This is special email only newsletter sale, share with your friends (after you get the boat you want :)) Email Steve Schon.
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Gear SALE plus
Save $10 - $20 on Piragis pants and shirts:
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Aleutian 1S 55 degree SLEEPING BAG
List Price $69.00
Your Price: $48.30*************************************************
1.9oz 15x15 Silnylon Tarp
List Price $204.00
Your Price: $184.00
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GCI PACK SEAT STOOL List Price $25.00 Your Price: $17.50
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Women's Convertible Pant
was $49 now $39
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Can you believe it's already September? The summer has flown by with people having wonderful times in the Boundary Waters and Quetico. There is still plenty of time to take a trip up here this season. Give us a call and we'll check out permits and get canoes reserved for you. Here is a little bit of miscellaneous info for you:
· Water levels are getting low.
· Bugs are minimal at best. Yea!!!
· We still have room on our Autumn Colors Guided Group Trip. The dates are September 22-28. Give Drew or Adam a call if you have interest and would like to sign up. There is also info on our website.
· Some of the trees are starting to turn.
· There are a few fires at this time - west side of Cummings and on the north side of Basswood (Canadian side) on Norway Point. More info is in THIS newsletter.
· It is getting dry up in our area so if you are coming to take a trip soon, you might want to think about using a stove, or at least be prepared to use one if the Forest Service decides to put any fire restrictions on. Basically, we need rain.
· Used Gear will be ready for sale pretty soon. We will put the new price sheet on our website and in our newsletter in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you know you want something, you can email drew@piragis.com or adam@piragis.com and let us know. We will then "hold" the item that you are looking for and call you when we are ready to sell it.
· We rent Satellite Phones for your trip if needed. Call to reserve one.
· Become our Facebook friend (Piragis Northwoods Company) and see a wonderful photo each day, news from Piragis Northwoods, and up-to-date info about fires, restrictions, road closures from the Forest Service, and lots more. It's the quickest way for us to let you know if the Forest Service puts on a fire ban, for instance. Stay up to date with us.
We would like to thank all of you who have used our outfitting services this summer and we look forward to helping the paddlers who are still coming up here for their trip. Adam and I are here all year and ready to help you with anything you need so please don't hesitate to call or email us for a trip this year or next. But, remember, this year is not over. September and a bit later are wonderful times to be in the wilderness. Try to get out one more time if you can. Contact us soon!
Paddle On!!
Drew Brockett
Outfitting Manager
Piragis Northwoods Company
800-223-6565 or 218-365-6745
drew@piragis.com |
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Send us your trip comments and pictures!
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What You Have to Say about Piragis Outfitting:
"We're back from our trip, and I just wanted to thank you for your help, and your company's help. I was thoroughly impressed by the knowledge, experience,and professionalism of every one of your employees. I would start another trip tomorrow if I could.
Please thank everyone at Piragis on behalf of the Lee family."
"Hey Adam,
A year later, this is the picture (with Agnes) Hollis chose to decorate the front of his second grade writing journal :)
Hope all is well in Ely! Still our best vacation EVER, even on the heels of a cruise this year."
"You guys and Piragis are super, I can't see us going to any other outfitter. Great gear, great organization, great service." Lee Schwartz
"We love renting from Piragis -- it is wonderful to have someone drop off and pick up!" Darolyn Gray
"Hi Drew, The Cliff/Steve trip was outstanding, just as anticipated. Steve once again proved to be a guide without peer, and Cliff was an entertaining fount of knowledge and stories that will be long remembered. Piragis can be justifiably proud of how these trips are planned and executed. The only downside I can come up with is that after six days of paddling bow for Steve, it's going to be hard to adjust to more normal skill levels in the stern. I will of course be looking for future trip opportunities with Piragis and Steve. Well done!" Regards, Mike Evans
"Just wanted to let you know we had a great trip. We got to see the pictographs on Lac La Croix ,and saw an apparently rare appearance of freshwater jellyfish on Loon Lake . My wife also hooked, but didn't land a huge smallmouth on Little Loon Lake - estimated 22-24 inches. Thanks for your help & hope to work with you in the future."
Best Regards, Mike Whitlock.
"Hey Drew,
My wife and I enjoyed our trip with the Minn II you folks supplied us with. Loved the paddles too. Thanks again."
Tim and Renee Feathers
Click here for a great trip report from the Feathers along with some fantastic pictures!
Send us your trip pictures: I LOVE THE BWCA
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The Piragis Northwoods Company Boundary Waters Blog - Cliff Jacobson
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It's the end of a rainy paddling day and you're camped at last. The tent is pitched an a crackling campfire beckons you to sit and relax. But where? There is no stump or "sitting log" nearby, and the ground is wet from rain. What to do? You can:
a) stand or squat near the blaze-hardly a way to relax.
b) you're tough-just sit on the wet ground.
c) place a plastic sheet on the ground then sit on the sheet.
d) set your "sit-back" folding canoe seat on the wet ground and sit on it.
To read the rest of Cliff's Blog click HERE
BLOG 19. Fresh Food Tricks,
I like to eat well on canoe trips. Pre-packaged, freeze-dried meals, like the ones you buy at camping shops don't cut it. My food comes exclusively from grocery stores and where possible, it is organic. I dehydrate hamburger, chili beans and salsa then vacuum-seal them for the long haul. I carry fresh vegetables-onions, peppers, celery, carrots, potatoes-and fresh eggs (I despise powdered eggs!). The veggies will last about 10 days on a canoe trip if they are properly prepared. Eggs will keep for weeks if they're fresh from the farm and their shells are intact. TREATING THE VEGGIESPotatoes and onions need no treatment. I just wrap them individually in a sheet of paper toweling (to prevent bruising) then pack them in a porous (don't use plastic!) cotton bag. Peppers, celery and carrots are washed in clean water than allowed to soak for three minutes in a solution of water and chlorine bleach. How much bleach? The old Boy Scout method for purifying drinking water was to add 4-8 drops of chlorine bleach per quart of water. The water was then allowed to stand for 30 minutes, after which, it was aerated by pouring back and forth from one canteen to another. Most of the chlorine gas evaporated during mixing. I use a similar procedure but with more chlorine. I simply fill my sink with cold water then add about one-fourth cup of bleach (it's not rocket science). The bleach kills surface bacteria and molds. To read the rest of Cliff's Blog click HERE |
DETOUR THIS SUMMER ON HIGHWAY ONE To Ely
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Your Friends in the
Great Northwoods
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 105 North Central Avenue Ely, MN 55731
1-800-223-6565
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Autumn Colors & Wilderness Wildlife
Sept. 22 - 28
Click HERE for more info
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