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Piragis Northwoods Boundary Waters News
March 19, 2014
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Greetings!
The old days are back I guess you could say. Early open water and green grass are never really the norm here in Ely. March is usually the month that we get the greatest amount of snowfall. It often comes in like a lion and goes out like a lion up here northeast of highway 53.
It doesn't stop us though. Skiing is still fun, just getting faster and faster. Crappie fishing is starting to heat up and the days are definitely getting warmer. We talk and plan trips every day and with all of you calling for canoes and permits it's beginning to feel a lot like Spring.
Come up and see us soon, we miss all of you. There's still time to do some winter camping as you can see in the article a little further down and Ely is a great place to visit anytime of the year.
From the End of the Road,
Tim Stouffer, Piragis Northwoods Company
Spring
One day distant
on calendar pages that
originate down South;
in climes that have thrown
back the covers that
blanket our Minnesota ground.
Tomorrow then...
hidden by yesterday's crust
waits patiently,
its egg tooth sharp
and ready to test the shell.
Under the quilted
months of ice and snow;
slumbering, silently...
ready to sing.
©Timothy James Stouffer, March 19, 2014
All Rights Reserved
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Piragis Northwoods Co. of Ely, Minn., is best known for selling Kevlar canoes and kayaks and outfitting Boundary Waters canoe trips. But today the 32-year-old company is also gaining notoriety as a firebrand for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
A visit to the Piragis store on Ely's main street or simply perusing the Piragis website will reveal the eco-friendly nature of this local business. Solar electric and solar thermal panels abound on the roof, with signs proclaiming the store "is now Solar Powered"; LED lights have been installed in more than half of the store (replacing CFLs); and store staff are more than willing to share with visitors the benefits of solar power. Go to the company website and it's clear that Piragis is watching its carbon footprint. Click on the "We are Solar Powered" icon and you can see real-time monitoring of the store's 11 kW solar electric installation (a similar monitor is exhibited in the store). Daily energy output figures display total kWh generated and CO2 saved, documenting the benefits of solar power since the system's Sept. 1, 2010 installation.
"We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem," said Steve Piragis, owner of Piragis Northwoods Co. "We all have to make a difference individually in our environment. We hope we can serve as an example to other businesses and residences in our community."
Follow the LINK to read the whole article.
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Piragis Clothing for Women
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The women's clothing selection in our retail store has long been one of the best kept secrets on the Iron Range. Women drive from as far away as the Twin Cities to shop in our store because of the Fabulous selection.
Our clothing buyer Kerri has selected some pieces to add to our online catalog and we're happy to announce that we'll be adding to this selection throughout the summer and fall. This way you can shop for great looking clothing from the comfort of your own home or mobile device :)
 | | Click above for this dress from Lole |
Shop our Women's Fashion
Online HERE
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Planning a Trip: Where to Begin?
By Adam Macht
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Planning any kind of vacation comes with a lot of questions. What kind of weather should I be prepared for? How do I get to my destination? Where is a good place to stay-to eat? What are some sights I need to see? Planning a backcountry trip, specifically a Boundary Waters trip, is no different-it comes with its own tome of information to uncover. So, where to start?
Every Boundary Waters trip begins the same way. It all starts with the desire to rejuvenate and refresh ourselves-the desire to remove ourselves from our daily routines. For some, this might be a fishing trip, others might just want to get back to the basics, some might be explorers, or naturalists, or maybe some are looking for quality bonding time with friends and family in a beautiful, natural wilderness area. No matter how you choose to experience the BWCA, it begins with securing a permit.
Click HERE to continue reading.
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In the outfitting department we pride ourselves on the quality of our rental equipment. We get new gear each year, ensuring that our outfitting clients get the best gear available for their Boundary Waters adventures. With that in mind, we sell our used rental gear each year. Most items have only been used for ONE season and are in excellent condition! Check out the great deals below:
Superior One Portage Pack
New:$229.95 Used:$145
NEMO Losi 3P Tent
(Includes pawprint and footprint)
New:$440 Used:$300
CCS Deluxe Food Pack
New:$229 Used:$160
To see all of the Used Gear that we have available click HERE.
Call Drew or Adam at 800-223-6565 to order.
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Guided Group Trip: Stargazing in the BWCA
September 20-26
$1195
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Join us this fall for our 6-day, 5-night Stargazing in the BWCA trip, guided by Steve Johnson. See the night sky in all its wonder, unhindered by light pollution. We've planned this trip around the New Moon for optimum darkness. Hotel rooms in Ely for the nights of 9/20 and 9/26, the guide, canoes, gear, and food during your canoe trip are all included in the price. Bring your kids, bring your friends, sign up today!
Call Drew or Adam at 800-223-6565 to sign up. |
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No hints of spring in the BWCA, where winter rules
By: Doug Smith, Star Tribume
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NOTE: There's still plenty of time to go winter camping in the Northwoods and we've got used winter camping tents, sleeping bags, ski packages, stoves, pulks and snowshoes on sale now. Call our store to reserve yours now for a trip or to take home. 1-800-223-6565.
IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS - Lying in my toasty sleeping bag, I waited for the crackling fire in the small wood stove to warm the frigid canvas tent.
My three camping companions already had emerged from their bags on this bitter cold morning and fired the stove.
Though it was mid-March, the temperature outside in this frozen wilderness was an eyebrow-raising, finger-numbing 24 below zero.
"Ah, spring in the North Woods,'' said Steve Piragis.
"If you're going to winter camp, it might as well be winter,'' said Sam Cook, thawing a pot of frozen water on the stove.
Last weekend, there was no hint of spring in the million-acre BWCA. Instead, winter's grip held firm as four of us journeyed near Ely on a three-day camping-fishing adventure. We snowshoed 3 miles through woods and wetlands and across a small lake, each of us towing 6-foot-long sleds loaded with perhaps 75 pounds of gear to a boundary waters campsite cloaked beneath 3 feet of snow, framed by towering red pines.
Camp was near a rocky point where we believed crappies swam below 38 inches of ice.
But the real purpose of our trip was to return to the BWCA during its winter splendor and camp and fish with old friends. Tens of thousands of people paddle these border waters during spring, summer and fall, but few explore the area in winter. March, with its longer days and (usually) warmer temperatures, normally is ideal.
Click HERE to continue reading.
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Trip Advisor
2013 Certificate of Excellence
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We are very happy to report that we received a Certificate of Excellence from tripadvisor.com in 2013. Here is what the latest reviewer had to say: "Best Bonding Trip EVER"
I took my 13 year old daughter on a 7-day guided trip with Steve and Cliff as an intro to the Boundary Waters for her. I wanted to share my experiences there when I was a teenager. I was beyond happy to find that she LOVED every aspect of the trip; even portaging which is hard work when all the packs weighed at least half as much as my 13-year old! I was proud of how hard she worked and overjoyed that she displayed a true passion for the great outdoors. She also caught nine fish during our journey which kept the whole group well fed during the week. Kudos to Piragis for such great outfitting and stellar guides. I could not dream of a better experience for both of us!
Visited August 2013
By Sarah A
Click HERE to see what others had to say and to write a review of your own. We appreciate your help sharing the Boundary Waters experience with others. There really is no place like it! |
Why do Polar explorers and mountain climbers leave the comforts of home to explore our planet's remote world of ice and snow? How can they fall in love with something so harsh and unforgiving?
No one knows the answer more intimately than explorers who travel the frozen terrain. As they strip off the trappings of society and carry only the absolute necessities, these adventurers connect to their core selves as they connect to the frozen earth. The brush of wind against skin tells the forecast. The path of the sun traversing the sky tells the time. The shadows against ice and snow tell the direction they travel. The force of the wind tells whether they travel or not. And all the while, no matter where they go, no matter how difficult the journey, these adventurers feel at home in the cold, a world they are passionate about nurturing.
Cold Love follows polar explorer Lonnie Dupre through 25 years of exploration, revealing the dramatic beauty and life-giving forces of our earth's frozen places. When viewed up close, both the majesty and fragility of this world is clear for all to see. And in the seeing, we can't help but be inspired to love and protect our earth's frozen places, which act as a thermostat to regulate the global climate and provide a stable environment.
This one hour adventure film reveals our planet's breathtaking world of ice and snow, and the need to keep these frozen regions healthy in order for our planet to survive. Filmed in Greenland, the Arctic Ocean, Alaska and Minnesota.
Click HERE for more details and to see how you can help make this a reality.
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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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