|
Piragis Northwoods Company
 105 North Central AvenueEly, Minnesota 55731 1-800-223-6565 www.piragis.com June 30, 2009 Your Friends in the Great Northwoods News from Piragis Northwoods Company and the BoundaryWatersCatalog.com:
SAVE 25% on LIFEVESTS for Summer Paddling |
Follow us on Twitter
|
Why Choose Piragis Northwoods Company as your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip Outfitter?
There are many canoe outfitters in Ely and they all want you to do business with them. So, why should you choose Piragis Northwoods Company? Allow us to share a few reasons why we think you should choose us. These are not necessarily listed in order of importance - but they are all important. We all know that making a claim is easier than delivering the goods. Here at Piragis we really do try to live up to the hype. When we fail to do so, we appreciate hearing about it and we take your criticism to heart. * Service. We pride ourselves in seeking to provide the best service in Ely. We will give personal and careful attention to all of the needs of your group. We will treat you as if you are the only customers we have. From our first phone conversation to our good-byes at the end of your trip we will be there to answer any question, deal with any concern, and do everything required to make sure you have the best trip possible. We make it a point to pay attention to every detail. We know that small details, if not attended to, can ruin a trip. * Gear. We will provide you with the latest and best equipment on today's market. We purchase our canoe fleet new each spring as well as most of our gear. You are assured equipment that is in excellent shape. Most of our tandem Wenonah and Bell canoes are Kevlar and weigh in the 40 - 45 lb range. We have several different models of canoes and kayaks to address your groups specific needs. Carbon fiber first class and ultra-light bent shaft paddles and Seda life vests are included with the canoe rental. We use Sierra Design tents, Granite Gear packs, Cooke Custom Sewing Food Packs and Tarps, Big Agnes sleeping bags and pads, and MSR Windpro stoves. Our staff uses the gear and we know it works. * Great Food. We do an extra special job at providing not only generous quantities, but also top-notch quality in food. We know that food in the wilderness is an important part of the trip. We start you off with fresh food (steak, chicken, baked potatoes, veggies, bacon and eggs for your first breakfast). Then we provide a variety of tested and tasty freeze-dried entrees by Backpacker's Pantry, and Cache Lake Foods, for the rest of your trip. Our lunches are great - cheeses, salami, specialty soups by Cache Lake, Swedish Limpa Bread, bagels, gorps, trail mixes, fruit drinks, peanut butter and jelly, and a good variety of trail snacks. Call us and we'll send you a sample menu, or check it out here on our website. It will make your mouth water. We also accommodate vegetarians or people who are allergic to certain foods. * Experience and Knowledge. Our staff loves to paddle and we are in the wilderness as often as possible. This means you will get expert and timely advice on routes and conditions before your trip. We will spend extensive time going over maps with you to assure that you are more than well prepared when you hit the water. We know the routes, where the good campsites are, what the portages are like, where you can expect to catch fish, and points of interest - like waterfalls and Native American pictographs. If you are new to canoe camping, we will spend as much time as you want, going over techniques and canoe camping wisdom. Bert Heep and Drew Brockett have personally traveled most of the BW and Quetico, and they are more than anxious to share that first hand knowledge with you. * The Best Guides In The Business. We have a great staff of guides here at Piragis Northwoods. They love what they do and they are good at it. Whether it is finding a great fishing hole, that 5 star campsite, identifying plants, animals, and rocks, sharing knowledge about the history of the area, or their expertise around the campsite - our guides are top-notch. In addition to all of this - they have great personalities and really care about people. They are all trained in Wilderness First Aid and have years of experience. * Fair Pricing. You will find outfitters that charge less than we do and some that charge more. We guarantee that you will get a fair price for our services. Comparing outfitters is not easy. Many have multi-layered options that get confusing. We offer only one kind of full-outfitting package - ultra light and top drawer. Make sure that in your shopping you compare "apples to apples". We also extend substantial discounts to youth groups, Scout groups, and large groups. * Great Outdoor Store. We have a wonderful store full of essentials so you can stock up before and after your trip. (This summer anyone taking a Boundary Waters or Quetico Trip with us can get 10% off gear and supplies they buy from The Boundary Waters Catalog or Piragis Northwoods Company Retail Store for their trip.) So, if you are planning to take a canoe trip this coming season. Give us a chance to deserve your business. We promise that we will do everything we can to make sure you have the best canoe trip possible. We can't control the weather or the bugs - but we'll even try to do that! It has been said, that if you fish from a canoe with a Piragis logo on it, you don't need to bring your fishing rod - the fish see that logo, and just jump into the canoe. :-) |
|
Be Safe on the Water and Save 25% http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/browse.cfm/4,6803.html Now through July 6th Save 25% on the Dorado lifevest for those who love to fish and want a few extra bells and whistles. Was $84.99 now $63.74. Happy Summer! Now through August 31st Save $10 on our Famous Piragis Boundary Waters Canoe Pants. Get a pair of the best canoe camping pants ever and Save $10 off $69. Use order promo code 10PANT9. Tell your friends, outfit canoe campers everywhere and save on the best canoe pants ever worn! Item # K4201 http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/index.htm?PROMO=10PANT9 |
|
Blem Canoes and Inventory Clearance Kayaks on Sale Contact us about arranging delivery for $75 to $300 depending on distance from here.
|
|
Fish On!
   Mike Teach who once worked for us in our retail store, makes a habit of tripping to Quetico every spring to hunt for big smallmouth. These are some pictures from this year's trip. Mike is also a contributor to the Boundary Waters Journal and one of his articles is featured in the summer edition. It is titled, "Grand Slam Lures". Check it out! Our Outfitting Manager Bert Heep's article, "Portages -- The Dreaded "P" Word" is also featured in the 2009 Summer issue of the Boundary Waters Journal.
|
|
Why is Wilderness Important?
Here in Ely, Minnesota, our backyard is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In conjunction with Quetico Provencial Park in Canada this beautiful area is home to over 2000 lakes connected by rivers and portages that are only accessible to paddlers. It is still one of the most pristine places you can travel to and camp in. It is still one of the few places on earth where you can find water pure enough for drinking in the wild. It is home to countless ecosystems, the biodiversity of swamps, bogs, streams, watersheds, wetlands, rivers, and lakes. It is home to the Timberwolf, Moose, Common Loon, American Bald Eagle, Beaver, Muskrat, Otter, Pine Martin, Red Squirrel, Fisher, Fox, and many more of our animal brothers. These cold northern waters provide sport and food with their vast variety of fish from the fabled Muskie and Northern Pike to the coveted Walleye and the spirited Bass. Panfish and Sunnies are the delight of children and adults alike. The songs of birds both seen and unseen create a symphony like none other as you walk paths taken by Native Americans a centuries past. It is a paradise away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is a place to escape and get closer to things bigger than yourself. It is without a doubt the best medicine for stress relief and one of the most fantastic places you can introduce children too at a young age. The Boundary Waters is protected and yet accessible. It is set apart and special, but everyone can visit this beautiful country. It is both our sanity and the object of our affection. To discover more about the legal definitions of Wilderness and do your part in Wilderness Preservation please take some time to return to this page and follow some internet portages to the Wilderness Society: The National Wilderness Preservation System was created on September 3, 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed The Wilderness Act -- eight years after the first wilderness bill was introduced by Senator Hubert H. Humphrey. The final bill passed the Senate, 73-12, on April 9, 1963, and the House of Representatives, 373-1, on July 30, 1964. The original bill established 9.1 million acres of federally protected wilderness in national forests. The law did not increase the amount of land under federal control, nor did it mandate acquisition of additional lands. From THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY website:
Wilderness offers people solitude, inspiration, natural quiet, a place to get away. At the same time, designated wilderness protects biodiversity, the web of life. Of 261 basic ecosystem types in the U.S., 157 are represented in the wilderness system. Without these large, complex areas of preserved landscape, species protection would be virtually impossible and our understanding of how natural systems work would be reduced to childish speculation. Designated wilderness protects ecological values vital to all of us: Wilderness areas protect watersheds that provide drinking water to many cities and rural communities.
|
|
ONE SPOT LEFT on our African Safari. Make it happen in 2009!
Only 1 spot left, sign up today for only $2500 plus airfare.
African safaris are frequently very expensive and lavish. But, there is an alternative to the high priced wine and cheese safaris. There is even a benefit to the less expensive tour. The group is tiny. We camp safely where the animals are and the other people are not. And, the chef is the guide, the company owner and the jeep driver all in one. I am looking for two or more clients to accompany me to Africa for a tour of Botswanna, South Africa and Zambia. The highlights include visiting 2 of the top 10 game reserves in Africa. Good chances of seeing Africa’s largest herds of wildebeest and zebra and the elephant eating lions of Savuti. We’ll visit Khama Rhino Reserve, Makgadigadi Gamer Reserve, Moreni Game Reserve of the Okavonga Delta and the famous Chobe National Park. Most nights we camp in safe, comfortable tents perched on platforms atop the jeeps. Sean Stones is our guide and chief cook. Some clients say the trip is worth it just for the campfire cooking. There are openings the last two weeks of September when the wildebeest migration just might be underway. 10 days in Botswana, 4 days in South Africa. This safari includes the following highlights; the scenic Waterburg region of South Africa, one of the largest reserves in Africa – The Central Kalahari, one of Africa’s most well known ‘Natural wonders’ – the Okavango Delta, the third largest Zebra and Wildebeest migration and two of Africa’s top 10 rated game reserves; Moremi game reserve on the shores of the Delta and Chobe game reserve in Northern Botswana. An excellent all round safari offering exceptional game viewing, Excellent birding, and a variety of changing ecosystems.
|
|
Still Time to Join our Guided Group Wilderness Adventures Join the Howl with the Wolves Guided Canoe Camping Trip This unique and unforgettable experience begins with a day at the International Wolf Center, right in Ely, where we will spend the afternoon learning all about wolves. We will even be able to see live wolves in the protected area around the Center, in an environment that duplicates their natural habitat in every detail.
The next morning we will embark on our journey through the wilderness of the wolf. We will be entering pristine wolf habitat, where, if we keep our eyes and ears alert, we may be lucky enough to see one in the wild. The trip route includes the chance to see waterfalls, pictographs, and maybe even floating bogs, along with fishing, hiking, and relaxation opportunities. Don’t forget to bring your camera so you can capture the amazing scenery, wildlife, and good old-fashioned campfire fun. This is one wilderness experience that you will not want to miss, and the chance of a lifetime to see a wolf in the wild. BOOK NOW Trip Dates: July 11 - 17, 2009 6 days paddling, 5 nights camping Join new friends on a wilderness experience this summer. Paddle, portage and camp in America’s canoe country with other women who share your spirit of adventure. This is our most highly rated trip by past participants, and judging by the laugh meter it must be the most fun, too. Take a break from the humdrum and discover a pristine wilderness and maybe a little about yourself at the same time.
Our trained staff at Piragis Northwoods Company includes some of the most knowledgeable and trail savvy women in the outfitting business. The wilderness skills that our guides have acquired over the years are vital to making any adventure in the woods a success and before this trip is over you’ll be able to feel at home in the wild! Working together, our group will encounter every activity in the Boundary Waters with a cohesiveness that can only happen when everyone participates. After our first night in Ely, we’ll rise early and shuttle our canoes and gear to a nearby wilderness entry point. Giving ourselves the opportunity to get a true taste of the wilderness may include sightings of waterfalls, pictographs and perhaps even floating bogs. Our route will take us up close to the flora and fauna that make the Boundary Waters Canoe Area such an interesting place to travel. Keeping with our theme, we’ll be adapting new wilderness skills every step of the way, while still having time for fun and relaxation along the way. Our days will present opportunities for hiking, fishing if you like, and relaxation. The trip will be split with some travel days and base-camping. With each bend in the river and each new lake we encounter, the natural habitat varies and so will our experiences. Whether you want to brush up on your wilderness skills, experience the beauty of the woods and make new friends, or discover the outdoors with a group of women who enjoy canoe camping, this trip is a must! |
Thanks to our Newsletter Sponsors Below!
 |
