Piragis Northwoods Company
105 North Central Avenue
Ely, Minnesota 55731
1-800-223-6565
www.piragis.com
November 10, 2009
Your Friends in the Great Northwoods

News from Piragis Northwoods Company and the BoundaryWatersCatalog.com:

"Bert and Drew,

Once again our trip was very memorable... If I do meet anyone who is considering a trip to the Boundary Waters you can be sure that I won't hesitate to recommend you. You never fail to offer great service and a welcoming smile and we certainly view Piragis and your team as part of the overall experience. 
 
So, thank you again. Hope to see you sooner rather than later," Oliver Nottley





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Canoe Trip Outfitting Clients send in pictures:
Thanks for the wonderful pictures you've sent our way. We always enjoy showing everyone what the Boundary Waters looks like from the lenses of different paddlers.


Latta Johnston sent us these great shots from this past year.

David Croop sent us these pictures from his trip to Sunday lake in the Quetico 2008

Thank you to all who sent in photos. We're saving some more for future issues. Send us your favorite canoeing pictures from this Summer or Fall. Email them off and we'll feature them in one of our next newsletters.

E-mail us your trip pictures


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Boundary Waters Catalog Specials
There are a few new items that we've discounted highly online. These three items are coming to you first come, first serve on limited quantities with no backorders. If you've been waiting for a great deal on a great kayaking paddle or an awesome chance to save on a new tent, don't pass up these sales.


Breeze kayak Paddle



List Price $249.95
Your Price: $174.97
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Seedhouse 2 person Tent



List Price: $199.00
Your Price: $139.30
http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/browse.cfm/4,3871.html

Emerald Mountain 3 Person Tent



List Price: $399.00
Your Price: $279.30
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Piragis Northwoods Canoe Trip Outfitters Update

Thanks again for helping to make 2009 our best year ever. We continue to value your input and ideas on how to improve our services for your outfitting needs. We look forward to seeing you next year. Drew and I are only a phone call or email away, so let us know how we can help you plan for next year’s adventure.

Warmest regards to all of you,
Bert Heep

Bert@piragis.com

Drew@piragis.com
800-223-6565

Permits for 2010

We just closed the books on the 2009 Paddling Season and here it is time to talk about permits right away. As most of you know, it is important to get your BWCAW permit applications submitted into the Lottery for the best chance to get the entry point and date that you want. We can begin submitting permit applications for the BWCAW Lottery beginning on December 1, 2009. The Lottery will close on January 15, 2010 and we will know the results a few days later. So, if you know your dates and the entry point you want, give us a call and we will get everything ready to submit in a timely fashion. If you know your dates but don’t know where you want to go, or you need some fresh ideas, give us a call and we can give you some good options to consider.
Just ask for Bert or Drew.

Just a reminder about Quetico permits. Quetico permits can be obtained exactly 5 months prior to your planned trip date. For example, if you want to begin your trip on June 6th, we can get your permit for you on January 6th. Permits for May can be obtained in December.


2009 Highlights

Record Year.
We entered the 2009 season not quite sure about how the recession would affect our business. Well, we are grateful to report that we had a RECORD year. Thanks for your loyalty and continued involvement in Piragis Northwoods. Without you, we could not do what we do. Our successful year confirms that a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters or Quetico Park is a very important part of your life, even in difficult economic times. We don’t take this for granted and we promise to continue to provide excellent service and equipment to make sure that your experience is the best it can be. We look forward to serving you again in 2010.

Kevlar Paddles.
This past season we provided lightweight Kevlar Paddles for all of our paddlers. They were well received and appreciated. You will continue to have the option of wooden Bending Branches bentshaft paddles if you like, but we will offer the lightweight paddles again in 2010.

Weather.
Well, the summer was basically cool and relatively wet. In some ways we never felt like we had a summer until the month of September, which was full of sunny and warm days. This did not discourage you from taking your trip, but we did hear lots of folks wishing it would warm up a bit. The plus side of this was that water levels remained higher for most of the season. Only toward the end of the season did we see some creeks and rivers get a bit low. Let’s hope that next summer brings some higher temps.

Fishing.
Fishing reports were consistently good from groups as they returned. Our Smallmouth Fishing Group Trip had a banner week. In, fact, several of the guys on that trip told of sore wrists from catching so many fish. This is the truth, not advertising hype.

New Digs.
As you know, Drew and I moved our operations out to he Outfitting Barn so the outfitting department would all be together in one spot. We think it worked out great and wish we had done this years ago. We think everything worked more efficiently and made it easier for you. Let us know what you thought about the new setup.


Guided Group Trips dates set for 2010 season.

Hi folks! Our Guided Group Trips were a great success this past year and we are pleased to offer them again for the coming season. Here are the new dates for 2010. You will be pleased to know that we are keeping the cost of the trip the same as last year.
Maximum size for each group is 8 clients
2-4 clients – Cost is $1195 plus tax per person.
5-8 clients – Cost is $995 plus tax per person.

These trips are Guided by a professional guide and Fully Outfitted. This means you bring your personal clothing and toiletries and we do the rest. We also include lodging here in Ely the night before and the night after the trip. All permit fees and shuttle fees are included.

We are adding a new trip this year. Steve Johnson, has guided for us from the beginning of our operations. He has developed quite a following and reputation. He is extremely skilled, knowledgeable, and personable. We have had folks call up and request his services because so many others have raved about their experience with Steve. Well, here is your chance to go on a 6 day trip with Steve and learn many of the skills that he employs on his trips. Camp skills, navigation, survival skills, paddling techniques, first aid and emergency measures are a few of the areas about which Steve will share his expertise. You may not be a guide by the end of the trip, but you will be better equipped and knowledgeable about what it takes to be a confident and safe wilderness paddler. This trip will fill up quickly, so call us right away to book your spot on the great opportunity.


Guided Group Trips for 2010

Wilderness Camping Skills Trip with Steve Johnson – May 15 - 21 NEW ($1395 1-7 people only)
Smallmouth Fishing Trip – June 12 - 18
Loon Trip – June 26 - July 2
Women’s Wilderness Adventure – July 10 - 16
Howl with the Wolves – August 21 - 27
Star Gazing Trip – September 11 - 17
Autumn Colors Trip – September 25 - October 1

Contact Bert or Drew to reserve your spots on our guided trips.
 Bert@piragis.com

Drew@piragis.com
800-223-6565

What folks have said about Steve Johnson:

The guide, Steve Johnson, was excellent.


Steve Johnson was an absolute superstar.


Our guide, Steve Johnson, was the best we could have hoped for. He was so knowledgeable of woods, water, and wildlife, and a great cook too!


Steve Johnson was an outstanding guide and we enjoyed the time so much we may want to reserve his services again next year.


Steve Johnson was great. His cheery disposition and paddling/camp/culinary skills made the trip a memorable experience.


I credit the quality of the trip to Steve's willingness to learn what each of us was looking for - lay over day, length of trip, wildlife sightings etc. He did a great job of setting up an itinerary that was suitable and enjoyable for all 5 of us - he was flexible, thoughtful and informative and always willing to help me improve my canoe skills. Just as important to me was Steve's extensive knowledge of the local flora and fauna - this is key for me and really added to my enjoyment of the trip. I also appreciate that he clearly loves the area and was happy to be sharing that .

Steve Johnson was just as you advertised—extremely competent and knowledgeable on every aspect of the trip.


The highlight of the trip was Steve Johnson as our canoe guide. He was great! We had utmost confidence in his leadership and he never steered us wrong.

Steve Johnson was a great guide, never intrusive or commanding, but always ready to help and participate in many, many ways - including bringing most of his vegetable garden with him! He was a master in turning a dried bag of stuff into a real meal - although, having freshly caught fish certainly added tremendously to our dinners.


Johnson was great; knowledgeable, but not all knowing and superior. Helpful to a fault.

Steve is a superb guide. He is gracious, knowledgeable, low-key, and a good communicator. Steve’s knowledge of everything is encyclopedic. His competence gave us confidence in doing things we had never done before.

Superb -- Steve is like no one I've ever met. I think he could build a camp and feed us all out of a tree branch, a rock and a rubberband. Steve could make a gourmet meal out of a rock.




Get your 2009 Rental Canoes and Kayaks now.

Our Rental Fleet is Moving FAST

Click here to see the latest up-to-date list of discounted Canoes and Kayaks

Last of the 2009 Used Gear

http://www.piragis.com/usedboundarywaterscanoegearsale2009.html




Vintage Birchbark Canoe for Sale

This canoe was handmade 80 years ago by a Native American - a man by the name of Pete Dube of Maniwaki, Quebec. Pete Dube is illustrated on Page 10 of David Gidmark's book, BUILDING A BIRCHBARK CANOE: THE ALGONQUIN WABANAKI TCIMAN (Firefly Books Ltd., 2002). This is a classic high-ended wabanki canoe and was handmade in the finest traditions of the early American Indians. The canoe is in beautiful original condition. The canoe is usable as is, but needs to be resealed with pine pitch to prevent leaks that are normal for a canoe of this vintage.

The canoe features several original bark etchings (a beaver and an otter), a symbolic red ochre pattern along the gunwales and a small painting of a whitetail deer.

The canoe would make a wonderful conversation piece for someone's Ely cabin or residence.

 $12,000
Contact steve@piragis.com


New Sunday Evening Radio Show from WELY brings back Memories.

Old time radio show in the tradition of Steve Piragis and Bob Cary's "Camp Talk"


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