|
Piragis Northwoods Boundary Waters News
September 5, 2013
|
Greetings!
Hello from the End of the Road.
September has fallen upon Ely with cool nights and beautifully warm days. These are the days when being outside just feels better than being anywhere else. They are also the days that you just can't get enough of. If you like campfires and smores, this is your time. If you like fishing, they're beginning to bite in earnest. If you enjoy star gazing and storm watching and paddling without worry of insects -- hey this is your time. Want to take some of Summer's fresh vegetable bounty along on a trip and have it last a few days, pick it up at our Tuesday Farmer's Market and knock yourself out.
Come up to Ely this Fall and try hammock camping in the Boundary Waters. Try a Stand Up Paddleboard while the water is still warm enough. We'd love to see you and you'll enjoy yourself! Drew and Adam are on hand to help you plan the perfect Autumn canoe camping adventure.
We'd like to get your trip pictures and journal accounts of your trips! Email them to our webmaster and we'll share your experiences with others in our newsletter and on Facebook. Thanks for all you who have shared so far.
"Evaporation"
Morning mists rise as with
life of their own.
Up from the lake's surface
with the determination of limbs
reaching for a solid sense
of resolve.
Wraithlike arm fingerlings
stretch towards sunlight,
pulling timid torsos out of
mirrored surfaces belonging
to lakes named Ore-Be-Gone,
Siseebakwet, Little Winnibigoshish,
Ice Cracking, Esquagamah, Ed
Shave and Big and Little Cormorant.
Occasionally one of these
liquid landscapes will release
a leg, foot, a near wholebodied thought.
-- Before the warmth of the morning's
sun dissipates her otherworldly
inhabitants.
Hunched over the steam of my
coffee rising before my sleep-filled eyes
I wonder how many have escaped
through countless morning attempts?
Repeating their de-ja-vu struggles
to express their individuality.
"None, not one, nearly never'" cries
a loon breaking the surface at landing.
The hot vapors rising from my cup disappear
as I gulp down Big Fat Espresso
and wonder. Ponder.
Are these exhalations simply
Minnesota memories waiting to be
born again?
Or?
More desperate attempts for
the lake to reach the heart of man?
More coffee please.
© Timothy Stouffer, August 15, 2013
All Rights Reserved
Have a great day from Your Friends in the Great Northwoods,
At the End of the Road,
The Staff at Piragis Northwoods Company
|
|
End of Summer NEW CANOE SALE!
Save 10% and free shipping within 500 miles of Ely on New Tandem Bell Composite Canoes
|
Call Steve Schon today to get a great deal on Bell's Composite Tandem Canoes! 1-800-223-6565  | | Click for Bigger View. |
|
|
Stuff that Works: Gear Review and Spotlight From our Blog
|
 | NEMO Cosmo Pads
|
When I find something comfortable I tend to stick with it. I've used different sleeping pads over the years and I tend to go with the thicker the better because I have a bad back. Scoliosis doesn't play nice with flat on the hard ground, so I go big, because if I have to splurge on space in the pack, I'm o.k. with doing it for the sake of a great night's sleep. So... inflate assist or not, by the time you're finished blowing up a 3 inch thick pad, you are red in the face and you feel like you might just pass out. Especially if you've waited until you're too tired to think straight anyway. Then you do it for the rest of the crew, because your a good dad and pretty soon everyone wants to know if they should call in the lifeline helicopter. You know what I mean. Even after all of that and even if you've got a bag that fits the pad perfectly and won't slide off your neck never seems to be at the right angle when you shut out the last headlamp and call it a night. Come on, I know how particular most of you all are about your pillow, your preferred position, your eight or nine hours. Most nights I average 5 or 6 hours and I need them all. Coffee to follow. My solution? Well, first don't be afraid to try new things. And number two? READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW HEREFind us on FACEBOOK for great pictures every day from the Boundary Waters.
|
Canoe Campers from This Summer in their own words:
|
Drew,
"Claire and I had a wonderful time on our trip, and we totally pleased with all of your help and supplies. The route was perfect for us, beautiful and peaceful and mostly just on our own, having these wonderful lakes to ourselves. Doing it in 6 days was also just right for us, giving us one great day off.
We really appreciate how organized and helpful you all were. We both would love to come again!"
Terry
Good Morning! "We had an absolutely fabulous trip! You, and all the folks at Piragis, put together a truly seamless, easy trip for us. We had everything, and more, than we needed. Robyn and I commented to each other, more than once, that it all just fell together so well. We pretty much just needed to be sure we were in pretty good shape and brought the clothing and personal items we needed. Cliff and Steve are just the best. I've wanted to meet Cliff for a long time; and also wanted to paddle the BWCA and what better way to accomplish both! And Steve Johnson - words cannot describe how wonderful he is as a guide. Imperturbable, fun, a great cook and he just knows so much. The phrase of every day became "ask Steve" and he always had an answer. He sets the bar really, really high for any other guides. The other thing that impressed Robyn and me was the sense of trustworthiness generated by all at Piragis. This is the first guided trip I've ever done, so I don't know about any other outfitters. I suspect, though, that that intangible sense of trustworthiness and capability your team displays puts you at the top. I strongly suspect that this will not be my last trip with you folks. The one who deserves the most praise though is the one w/connections to the weather god who provided perfect weather for the entire trip! If he/she could do something about those mosquitoes he/she would rate a 12 out of a possible 10! Thank all of you, again, for a great trip." Lynn Filarecki  | | Big Pike |
This is my best BWCA fish pic, 42" Northern. Mark "My wife and I were very pleased with our trip. Your people (both in the outfitters and store) were all very friendly and helpful, especially Tim in the outfitters. We would be pleased to recommend Piragis to anyone. "
Thanks, Ed
Adam, Drew,
"You guys are top notch! As always you and your team did an excellent job in every aspect of outfitting our trip. Even Wade was pretty good (kidding, he really was great!). Really appreciate the professinalism and quality you guys bring every time. I always recommend you to anyone who asks. Thanks again for helping to make this year's BWCA trip a great adventure for me and my sons!" RobertHi Drew and Adam, "We had a GREAT time and especially appreciated Lynn Anne's expertise and teaching as our guide. We ate well too! We'll be Happy to refer anyone to Piragis." Dawn Wilson & John Hardy |
BLOG 53. You Saved Us by Cliff Jacobson
|
This is from Caitlin Looney, a wilderness therapist in Colorado. Caitlin was guiding a group of teenagers and turned a "lost experience" into a confidence-building, inspirational event. Caitlin did everything exactly right. Follow along on the map as you read her story. Note that her choices reflect an in-depth understanding of backcountry navigation.
Cliff
------------------------------------------------------
Hello Cliff:
I am a wilderness therapist in the Rockies of Colorado. The majority of my work happens front country with kayaking, challenge courses, hiking, and fishing as my modalities. However, once a year I co-lead a trip with 10 eighteen year olds into the backcountry of the Rocky Mountain National Park. The majority of the trip is on trail with the exception of one day when we complete a peak ascent. This year was my fifth year leading this trip and peak ascent (Mt. Orton) in the same region. I always give the students a short orienteering lesson along with maps and compasses before we head up. On the way back down from the peak, I offer them the opportunity to lead for a while (after all, they just have to go downhill, right?!).
|
Canoe Trip Outfitting: Quick Links
|
|
Above all else, Canoe Country is THE place in North America for canoeing and camping.
We are here to help you plan your trip every step of the way. From permitting and routing, to canoes, gear and food, our goal is to help you have an unforgettable wilderness experience. Call Drew or Adam at 800-223-6565 to set up your adventure!
Quick Links:
|
We have a new ONLINE CATALOG
|
By now you will have noticed some changes online. We are proud to announce the launch of our new online catalog. We're spending the summer improving the pictures of our gear, delivering new content and extensive information, uploading videos and polishing the new bells and whistles. For the first time in our long storied history, you can redeem a Piragis Gift Card online! That's just one improvement of many. We've listened to the feedback of you, our best customers and implemented many of your suggestions. It looks great and it is getting better every day. It has been fully functional since the end of June, and it is ready anytime of the day or night for new and improved shopping experiences. Hey that reminds me, you can start writing reviews of your favorite products, too.
Thanks for shopping with us yesterday, today and tomorrow! We'll continue to make that experience more enjoyable and easier for you!
Shop our New Online Catalog HERE
|
Call Drew or Adam at 800-223-6565 to reserve your canoe trip and find out how to get 10% off your catalog and retail store purchases! |
|
Your Friends in the
Great Northwoods | 105 North Central Avenue
Ely, MN 55731
1-800-223-6565 |
|
