Piragis Northwoods Company
Newsletter May 1, 2014
Greetings!

Ely is warming up.  We've had some big wind and rain visit us the last few days.  For the most part, that leaves the yards and streets in town void of snow and ice.

The lakes and woods are still holding onto Winter though and with Fishing Opener in Minnesota less than 10 days away we thought we'd share with you the "state of the state."

Steve and Nancy Piragis got out for some adventure yesterday and visited the Stuart River.  Below are some pictures of the portage and a good view of the swift current being fed by the rain and melting snow and ice.

The ice has pulled away from the shoreline on Fall Lake and the wind and rain is doing a good job of "rotting" it and breaking it apart.  We'll continue to keep you updated on FACEBOOK and via TWITTER as the ice out progresses.

Hopefully we'll be out fishing next weekend and as people begin their first canoe trips of the year, the sun will join us and accompany them.  Life is an adventure and the weather in Minnesota helps keep that adventure exciting.

With that in mind we're including some tips for cold weather canoe tripping and putting some of the best cold-water foot gear on the planet on sale for a limited time, just in-time for your early season trips.  Enjoy!  (details below)

From the End of the Road,
The Staff at Piragis Northwoods Company.



The Melt

Music.
A familiar soundtrack
running swiftly in the background.
Ice, black and pitted,
slips away from shore;
shadowed fingers
giving in, giving up
its grip on land.

Current.
Eats away
underneath the sheets of
solid water.  Eager to become
one again; tired of the separation,
longing for liquidity.
As if jealous for the walking
on ice that took place for
six months.

Spring.
Fluidity and motion.
Life and liberation leap
from the weakened grip of
April's muddied hand.
Calling, beckoning the canoes
to return, paddles to
pursue.

Loons.
Returning with song
and purposes all their own. The
wild dance begins and nesting spots
dreamed of are scouted.
Songs remembered,
new verses begun.


�Timothy James Stouffer
May 1, 2014  All Rights Reserved

BE PREPARED for COLD WATER Trips
Make Sure You Have What You Need


These pictures show the portage into Stuart River and the water flowing swiftly below.  Nancy is walking through quite a bit of snow on the portage and there are, of course, puddles across the portages and streams of water flowing through the woods.  Stepping down into an unexpected and unavoidable puddle with the wrong kind of footwear can be an unforgivable mistake.  It will put an end to the fun on your trip and be cause for immediate concern.  Hey, snow is cold, remember!  If you flip your canoe, fall into the water or get your only pair of shoes soaked, you'll know it.


Canoe camping in this type of weather (some of you will be venturing out next week) demands that you set off into the wilderness prepared for anything that could happen.  Hypothermia is a killer and traveling this time of year without extra clothing, warm layers and a reliable source for quick fire starting is unacceptable.

If you are going canoe camping in the Spring or Fall,
you need at least the following:


Proper Footwear and good wool socks 
Fire tinder, starter, waterproof matches, weatherproof lighter 
(more than one set of fire starting material in multiple places)
Extra set of dry clothing
 
Long underwear 
Rain Gear, Fleece and Windshirt 
Quick Source of High Energy Food 
Emergency Blanket 
and always WEAR your LIFEVEST!

There's more, like Boat Tape, Xtra Paddles, First Aid Kit, Xtra Warm Socks... but above is a short list that easy to remember.  Always pack your Common Sense!  Don't take chances.  Error on the safety side of things always.

Good, reliable footwear heads the list and that's why we're offering you 10 PERCENT off for a limited time (through Midnight tomorrow night) on our best-selling Caney Fork Portaging Boot, the Chota Breathable Sock and the ultra-versatile Chota Hippies.  Just place your order online with coupon code WETCOLD or call in with your order.  This special sale offer will expire tomorrow night, Friday, May 2nd at midnight.  
 


Caney Fork Portage Boots,
Chota Breathable Socks and
Chota Hippies Waders:
All on Sale through tomorrow Midnight

Save 10 Percent with coupon code WETCOLD
You've got to keep your feet warm and dry when you are on cold weather trips in the Spring and Fall.  We want to help you get prepared for trips in the first part of the year, especially since the ice will be going out relatively late this year.  You cannot be surprised in the wilderness by not being prepared -- it could literally lead to a life and death situation.  Submersion in cold water can lead to hypothermia in a matter of minutes.

Take advantage of this limited time offer to SAVE 10 PERCENT on three of our best-selling pieces of gear:  The Caney Fork Portaging Boot, the Chota Breathable Sock and the ultra-versatile Chota Hippies.  Just place your order online with coupon code WETCOLD or call in with your order.  1-800-223-6565.  This special sale offer will expire tomorrow night, Friday, May 2nd at midnight

click to save 10 percent

click to save 10 percent
Click to save 10 percent

 

Great for Cold Weather Trips:
The Piragis Windshirt
When it is cold out, layers can really make a difference.  Cut down on the wind with our Windshirt.  It has a hand pocket to warm your hands :) and a convenient zip pocket to store stuff like extra matches and fire tinder in a ziplock bag or a snickers bar and some safe-start fire gel.  It looks great on, too and the hood helps protect you when the wind picks up on the lake.

We teamed up with Cliff Jacobson again to design a lightweight windshirt for canoe tripping--a versatile piece of clothing for any weather condition.  Use it on sunny days as protection against a headwind, layer over baselayer in cooler conditions or wear under your raingear as added defense against the elements.
Click here for Windshirt

Click HERE to see what Cliff Jacobson has to say about it.

Ever see Beavers at Work Up Close?
Our Blog
Ever wonder at all the work that must go into those pesky beaver dams that you find yourself portaging your canoe over on certain routes in the Boundary Waters?  Beavers are truly master craftsmen :) and when it comes to work ethic, they outshine everyone else.

I've witnessed them fill up a culvert and reroute a waterway overnight after it has been completely cleaned out the day before.  When they are compelled to build a home or a dam or get new wood for food, they are virtually unstoppable.

This video was shot near a residential area in Canada.  Perhaps wilderness beavers do it differently :) but we doubt it.  Very cool to watch.

Busy as a Beaver... now you know why!

Click HERE to continue reading and share what you looking forward to this paddling season.

 

"Like" Us on Facebook
For those of you who don't already follow us on Facebook, don't forget to sign up.  We will keep you up to date on all of the latest news out of Ely including ice and fire conditions.

 
Guided Group Trip: Stargazing in the BWCA
September 20-26  $1195
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.
Trip Advisor
2013 Certificate of Excellence
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! 

Your Friends in the
Great Northwoods
105 North Central Avenue
Ely, MN  55731
1-800-223-6565
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Wenonah Canoes sponsors Piragis Northwoods Company ENEWS

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