How to correctly enter and exit from Kevlar Canoes in the Boundary Waters

Like the man says, We Have the best gear and canoes available. Take care of our gear and it will take care of you! We guarantee it!  In our ongoing education series of videos for canoeing and camping we got Steve Piragis and Aaron Chick out on the water.  Check out the pristine new kelvar canoes... We start every summer with brand new equipment.  New Canoes, new kevlar super-light paddles, new lifevests, new tents, new cooking equipment and tarps.  Only the best for YOU!

Late Winter Crappies

My friend Bob and I headed out to one of our local hotspots this weekend to see if we could scare up some Crappies. I can't tell you where we went of course, but can say it was less than 15 miles from Ely and outside the Boundary Waters. After a short walk we arrived at our destanation around 5pm. The recent action has been best in late afternoon until dark.

We were in about 20 feelt of water and fished between 1' and 4 to 5' off the bottom. We were using minnows and meal worms on plain hooks, ice jigs, or rapala jigs. The action wasn't hot and heavy but we managed to pull a dozen or so fish onto the ice including a few small Perch. It was a cloudy afternoon with an occasional light mist and temperatures in the low to mid thirties. With a few fish spread out on the ice we had a Bald Eagle check us out as he flew overhead.

As it got dark and we headed back to the car we heard both Great-horned and Saw-whet Owls singing from the shoreline woods. Ice conditions have been varied and often slushy this winter but were excellant this afternoon. With the recent thaws and some rain there was a crust that just recently turned from treacherously slippery to easily walkable. This is my favorite time of the year for ice fishing with the longer daylight hours and moderate temps, and having a meal of crappie filets doesn't hurt either.

Spirit II - A great all-around canoe

I've decided to write a series of short blogs on Wenonah Canoe models, and hopefully pass on some good information drawn from my own experience, as well as feedback received from our staff, customers, and friends over the years. I'll alternate between tandems and solos and will cover a few kayaks as well. In no particular order I am starting with the 17' Spirit II. It is one of Wenonah's longest lasting models and like the title says "a great all-around canoe".

Wenonah Spirit II in Royalex Layup

At 17' long with 1 1/2" of rocker it is long enough to track well for easy paddling on lake trips, yet is short enough and turns easily for rivers. It has been in our rental stable for about twenty five years and is a favorite of BWCA trippers who do routes combining lakes and rivers. It has also been the choice of many fisherman over the years who appreciate it's stability and maneuverability. It is available in 3 materials and four different lay-ups.

The most popular is the kevlar ultra-light at 42lbs followed by the same hull in royalex at 69lbs. We offer both of these lay-ups in our rental fleet. Like all of our rentals we have these available for sale after every season. Give me a call if you would like to reserve one for your self. You can check out all the specs and prices on our website, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions. If you have some feedback on the Spirit II from your own experience that you'd like to share, leave a comment or contact me directly 1-800-223-6565.

Traditions...An Important Part of our Lives

In recent days I have been thinking about how important traditions are in our lives. Over the course of time we all develop traditions that take on great significance and value. Many of the traditions that we value have been passed down to us from parents and family members. Sometimes these traditons relate to food, special events or holidays, and for some of us, the love of wilderness and paddling.

I have a client who lives in Whitefish, Montana. He and his sister are planning a trip to Quetico this coming paddling season. John and Nancy had a father who instilled in them the love of wildeness and the love of paddling a canoe. Their father, and his twin brother were born in 1910 and lived in Memphis, TN. Here is a part of a recent email I got from John:

One day, if my sister and I ever get it typed up, I'll share with you the detailed log John and Jim kept of their Mississippi River trips. The logs are fascinating, but they are written in longhand, in a journal, and they do not photocopy very well. John and Jim were two of five sons, all of whom were Eagle Scouts (and there were two daughters). They both ran field hospitals (later called MASH units) in WW2 in northern Africa and in Italy. They were incredibly close -- called each other almost every day until my dad died first, Jim a year later -- and they loved the outdoors. My love of canoeing comes straight from my dad. Once you canoe in the wonderful country where you live, you are hooked for life, and John and Jim loved the trip we took there in 1968. They both played the mandolin and harmonica quite well, and on that trip Jim took his mandolin and John his harmonica, and they serenaded us around the campfire each night. One night while sitting around the campfire, on a powerful transistor radio we had taken, we picked up a crystal-clear broadcast from Memphis, where we all lived. I cant remember what station or program we were listening to, but occasionally, in the background, we could hear the whistle of the Southern Railroad! It was, to say the least, weird!

How cool is that? John and Nancy are trying to convince a few friends to join them on their trip and to aid in that process, Nancy has written a poem to entice them. With Nancy's permission, here is her poem:

“ . . . . . Come, my friends,
And let us seek a newer world
Where nature’s beauty is unfurled
And paddles ‘round canoes do swirl.
Push off, and sitting well, smite
The sounding furrows with delight
To sail beyond the sunset far
And sleep beneath the northern stars.
Our hearts lie where the northern pike
Incredibly and fiercely strike
And bend the rod like a full-drawn bow
As they struggle and leap from far below.
Where spruce and fir like steeple rise
In adoration to the skies.
Give us paddles and sleek canoes,
We’ll portage and explore the views
Of gleaming strings of wilderness lakes
All for the joy of adventure’s sake.
The fellowship of campfire tales
As we listen to the wind’s wild wails
And watch the path the gray geese fly
Across the moonlit Canadian sky,
Will lodge for life within our minds
And settle gentle like a tie that binds.

. . . . . with apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Dr. James G. Hughes and Dr. John D. Hughes, my uncle and father (twins)

Evidently, besides being avid outdoors men, they were Doctors, musicians, and poets.

What is your story? Is paddling a tradition in your family? Are you making it a tradition that you will pass down to your children? Tell us about it. We would love to hear your story.

Thanks John and Nancy for sharing a part of your lives with us. It makes us feel like we are a part of your tradition.


See you on the water...

Bert Heep

Women's Wilderness Adventure!!

Greetings to all you women out there who have been wanting to take a canoe camping trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This blog is for you!!!
Our Outfitting Department has many Guided Group Trips every summer, but for this write-up, we'll focus on the Women's Trip that we do. It's a great opportunity to experience a paddling adventure in the best canoe area in the world; so whether you are arriving solo or with some friends, you are sure to leave with vivid memories of everything you have seen and done.

The journey is fully outfitted (we use ultra-light Kevlar canoes), guided, and lodging for you is included. All you have to do is get to Ely on the arrival date. We take the worrying out of the trip planning.

The 2011 dates are July 9-15 and the cost is $1195 per person plus tax. A $300 deposit is required to reserve your seat in a canoe. We can only take seven clients so sign up soon!

July 9 - Arrive in Ely. Check in. Meet guide in the evening. Motel included.
July 10-15 - Paddle in the BWCA!!
July 15 - After we pick the group up, you will have another room at a motel.
July 16 - Head home after you have breakfast at a great restaurant in Ely like the Chocolate Moose.
So take a break from the humdrum and discover a pristine wilderness and maybe a little about yourself at the same time. Space is still available so grab a friend and come on up to Ely this summer.

Call Bert or Drew! 1-800-223-6565

Paddling in the Midnight Sun in Greenland

It’s hard to describe just how beautiful and awe inspiring are the fiord of Uummannaq Greenland.  I’ve paddled there since 1999 and I try every year to communicate to all of you why I think this is the best kayak trip on the planet.   Too many adjectives just sounds like a sales pitch and this place is too good to cheapen with a sales pitch.     The pictures will do have to do the talking.  Read the photos and call me and we’ll talk about getting you up there.  Full trip details are at www.worldwidepaddlingadventures.com.

 

Call Kim McCluskey today before you forget and talk to him about joining the Uummannaq trip this year.  Spaces are limited and Greenland Air reservations are difficult to make if you wait any longer.  218-365-4297.

Steve

Guest Post - Grandma Goes Solo - A tripper's Story

Grandma Goes Solo: One canoe, 22 days, 100+ miles, Infinite Satisfaction

by Cindy Miller

Snowy, winter evenings in front of a crackling fire are prime time for daydreaming over maps. It was late January. Firelight flickered across my Chrismar Quetico Provincial Park map as it lay open on the coffee table – again. My husband and I already had our canoe trips for 2009 planned and there I was, already daydreaming about 2010. Somehow I just knew I wanted to – had to -- make a long, solo canoe trip in Quetico the summer of 2010. It would be my way of celebrating the summer I would turn sixty years old. I also knew that it would require a lot of planning and preparation for me to achieve my goal. Although I had made several canoe trips, I had never been without my husband or a guide.

I began by defining what I meant by a “long” trip. The longest canoe trip I had made was only two weeks, so for me, anything over two weeks was a longer trip. Because I needed to start somewhere, I chose numbers that had to do with sixty. Sixty days sounded like too much. Thirty days and thirty nights seemed better and they added up to sixty. Since that was almost a month, I added another night, making it a month. I call it “numerical poetic license.” While I expected I might stay in Quetico for all 31 nights, I also knew that I had probably chosen more days than necessary. I wanted the safety and luxury of having too many days, not too little. I was not trying to prove anything. I just wanted the freedom of not having to travel on windy or bad weather days or even on days of paralyzing, exquisite and indescribable beauty. If I arrived at my exit destination early, I wanted the choice of staying or leaving when I felt ready to do so.

August 6 to September 6, 2010 were my chosen dates. From past trips I knew I could encounter almost any kind of weather in that timeframe. I also knew it was one of the most favorable times of the year. I wanted to maximize my odds of comfort and safety, so timing was important. I would not push to make mileage or numbers of lakes or any other numerical goal. Although my trip began by choosing numbers, I was determined that it would not be about numbers. It would just be me, alone, experiencing Quetico with body, mind and spirit. It would be about whatever Quetico wanted to teach me -- about whatever I was open to and wanted to learn. It would be about learning to truly “live deliberately” in my years after sixty.

It was also about comfort and safety. I knew I needed more skills, gear and planning. On my previous trips in Quetico I had never portaged a canoe or camped alone. A few decades before, in my younger years, I made several solo backpacking trips. While backpacking and canoe camping trips have many similarities, they are different. Aging also makes a difference. Since age hadn’t made me stronger or more spry, I was hoping it had made me wiser.

Looking back at my planning and preparation stages, here are a few of the wiser moves that worked for me:

• I purchased a “SPOT” satellite signaling device. (check out www.findmespot.com and www.piragis.com) My use of this device in other wilderness settings convinced my husband and me that using a “SPOT” would make my risk level more reasonable. Notice I said I used it (and I used it often) before I went on the longer trip.

• I used and tested all my gear well before I made the longer trip. I made three short (2 night, 3-day) solo trips the summer before the long one. They were a way of testing everything – my gear, skills, food choices and fitness as well as my desire, intentions and “mind set” for making a longer trip.

• I sought out all the advice I could get. Because I spend my summers in Ely, I was able to find and talk to many people with many levels of skills, view points and knowledge about Quetico. I researched and read about Quetico history, plants, animals, geology and geography. I took outdoor wilderness classes and upgraded my Wilderness First Aid certification. I read a lot about solitude and wilderness. (Most interesting was Robert Kull’s Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes – A year Alone in the Patagonia Wilderness.) Every chance I had, I asked questions – and learned about other questions that needed asking. I listened to and read many personal stories about wilderness, Quetico and solitude. I went to the John B. Ridley Research Library at Quetico Park and received a lot of information from Shirley Peruniak (Author of Quetico Provincial Park: An Illustrated History) and Andrea Allison (Librarian). And, of course, I compared and poured over maps.

• For the next year and a half I assessed my skills and gear in solitary situations. It was important to consider how each bit of knowledge and gear would work for me alone – not just in the usual group situation. Weight, size, quality, cost, comfort, durability, maneuverability, multiple uses, maintenance, etc. were all considered. Many of my choices were influenced by the fact that I am not particularly strong in my upper body and have some arthritis in my hands.

• Perhaps I should have listed fitness first on this list of preparations. While we all like to tell ourselves that age is “only a number,” fitness can’t be faked. I am far from being Superwoman, but I am in the habit of exercising daily, eating reasonably well and I am not overweight. Because I have been very active throughout my life, I have a realistic understanding of my fitness level. I don’t ever want to be one of those people I’ve seen on portages who look like they haven’t exercised for 30 years but still think of themselves as young and fit. They may get away with it in a group situation (by sadly relying too heavily on others) but not on a solo trip. Once you are in the wilderness you can’t fool anyone – particularly yourself.

A big consideration was building skills for a solo trip. On my other trips someone else had always carried the canoe. There were several other skills I knew how to do and had watched being performed, but had not tried alone. This is why I planned the three short solo trips in the summer of 2009. The first two were without portages and I used my own kayak. Because I was on a budget, I did not want to spend money to rent a canoe until I decided I could and wanted to camp alone. After deciding I was capable and actually liked camping on my own I prepared for my next challenge: a trip with a canoe and portages. Before I went on the third trip, I practiced portaging techniques and endurance in an unpaved, circular driveway and in some of the rougher, rockier spots on the same property. When I realized my biggest question – “Could I easily portage a canoe?” – was answered, I remember going back into my cabin, raising my arms in victory and yelling to the walls as loud as I could, “GAME ON!”

I saw the third trip as my real test. The route I chose had four portages with a total of 375 rods (over a mile). As it turned out, the first day included an all-day rain and several logistic challenges. It was a better test for portaging and camping than I had planned. It also lead to a sweeter feeling of success. It was on that trip that I became fully confident that I was ready for more.

The next big question was: What specific canoe would I use on my long trip? I had to compare renting vs. buying a canoe and used vs. new. After a year of searching, my final choice was to purchase a new Wenonah, Solo Plus, Kevlar canoe (Thanks to the folks at Piragis Northwoods Company for their help.) It proved to be very stable and can also be used as a tandem (hence the “Plus” in the name). While it was not the most economical solution for just one solo trip, it was the best answer if I wanted to do future solo and group trips. Because I bought it in the spring, I was also able to paddle it often before my trip.

I already owned some good camping gear. I had a good tent and all the appropriate clothing. Many other equipment decisions fell into place in their own unique ways. Some from past experience and my own creativity and some from simple luck. Some answers came from friends and guides simply telling their stories – the kind of stories that included “This happened to me…,” or “Do you know how to start a fire when everything you have is wet?” or “Have you considered taking this item along?” I can’t emphasize enough the importance of having the most useful and best quality gear you can get (whether you own or rent). On a long trip, comfort, quality and ease of use are even more important.
If you have read this far, my guess is that you are considering a solo trip or have already made one or more yourself. You probably already know this equipment stuff and are just comparing notes. I have included a few (far from all) details here because I want it to be known that I did not go into this trip carelessly or without thought and preparation -- nor do I think anyone should.

After the attention to gear and skills came the real core of my solo trip: the deeper questions of “Why?” and “What could I and did I learn along the way?” Perhaps you are also wondering “What was the way?” or “Why was it only twenty-two days and not the originally planned thirty-two?” or “What did your friends and family say when you told them what you were going to do?”

I’ll continue with answering the easier questions first:

During my preparations I was often amazed at people’s reactions when I told them that I was going on a long solo trip. Some would look me in the eye and seriously ask, “So who is going with you? “ or “Who is your guide?” I would repeat the word “solo” and their disbelief was as heavy as Ely greenstone. One person actually told me I was, “ too old to do something so foolish.”

Other reactions ranged from an e-mail telling me that I may need psychological help (“people have committed suicide on solo trips”) to, “Cool! I’ve always wanted to do that too!” More than once I got this reaction: “Cool. Can I go with you?” Again I had to repeat the word solo. It became obvious to me that people’s reactions to my life is more often a statement about their lives and their fears.

My husband and family and dearest friends were very supportive and just wanted to know that I was safe each day. If you have ever been the one left behind on an adventure, you understand. My “SPOT” alleviated many of their fears. It also made me feel that I was not ignoring their concerns or being reckless.

The easiest question to answer is about the route I planned to take and the route I actually did take. I flew (Thanks Campbell’s Quetico Air Service & pilot Chris Darbel) from Crane Lake to Beaverhouse Lake Ranger Station (northwest Quetico) to begin my trip. Here I am at the Crane Lake dock:

My exit point would be at Prairie Portage (south-central Quetico). I purposely had no specific route planned in between so I could paddle each day where ever I felt compelled to go. (I often paddled the long way around islands and backtracked to look at places from other perspectives.) I did know that I would first go east and then chose a place to go south. I made my minimal plan known to a few friends and discussed my general decision-making thoughts with my husband. It was almost like having an itinerary. Since I had a “SPOT” I felt this open-ended plan was a very reasonable risk. The benefits of this route were (1) no repetition of routes were required so I would mostly be covering territory I had never paddled before, (2) I still had the freedom of making daily choices, (3) the daily fees for entering at Beaverhouse were $5 less per day, and (4) by ending at Prairie Portage I knew if I arrived early I could easily get back to my cabin in Ely without waiting for my scheduled pickup on September 6.

My final route resembled a very wiggly figure seven (see map below) from Beaverhouse to Pickerel Lake and then south through Dore, upper Sturgeon, Russell, the poet lakes, upper Kawnipi, Keewatin, Agnes Lake, the “S” chain (Silence, Sultry, Summer, Noon, Shade, and South Lake. Hmm… I guess in this case “Noon” begins with an “S.”), North Bay, Burke Lake, Bayley Bay to Prairie Portage. By my estimate, including some extra paddling I chose to do along the way, I paddled a touch over 100 miles. The portages I took equaled about 4.6 miles (7.5 Kilometers).

Multiply that times 7 since I was making 4 carries over each one (carry, back, carry, back, carry, back, carry). If you are imagining right now how much effort that was, don’t forget loading and unloading the canoe. And, while you are at it, imagine getting over 7 beaver dams. There were many challenges there too.

Because I wanted the freedom of going where ever I felt like going, I had everything I needed for 31 nights (I took food for 32 nights – just in case) hence the two packs and one barrel. Probably a big, tough young man would have been able to make fewer carries. I am a realistic, sixty year old grandmother. I needed to break everything down into smaller, manageable parts and steps. That was my philosophy for everything. Fewer miles and fewer portages per day with more carries and more time allowed on the portages were just fine with me. I remembered Eric Larsen (www.savethepoles.org) telling about having to repeat to himself often, “One step at a time. One step at a time.” I often repeated to myself, “One careful, small step at a time.” I also remembered Dennis Weidemann’s (author of This Water Runs North) advice to, “Paddle like you’ve got nowhere to go.” These bits of advice worked well and added to the depth of my trip experience.

Now that you have imagined paddling and crossing all those portages alone, imagine how grateful I was when at some portages I ran into other people offering to help me across. Sometimes they were travelling in the opposite direction. (I reciprocated in their direction when I could.) Sometimes there were people just day-tripping from a base camp with an empty hand or back or just wanting to be helpful. On the longest portage of my trip (1120 meters) I ran into several canoes of teenage boys from the Voyageur Wilderness Programme. They told me to pick up the lightest load and they carried the rest. This struck me as being the Quetico version of “Helping a little old lady cross the street.” I know I could have done it myself, but I accepted the gift. I am happy to report that the helpful Quetico spirit is alive and well and being perpetuated.

Why did I end the trip at 22 days? First, remember, I had nothing to prove and the trip was not about numbers. Second, I had many fortunate events that made the trip go faster than I originally planned (such as help on portages as I just mentioned). Third, the weather forecast for after the 22 days was already changing toward windier, wetter and colder (Yes, I had a weather radio with me). Although I was fully prepared for it, being weather and wind-bound only a few miles from Prairie Portage just didn’t sound like fun for the end of my trip. I was also running out of blank pages in my journal. One of the pleasures of my trip was keeping a journal. I did not leave Quetico “early,” I just left when it felt right.

What did I learn along the way? Probably far more than I realize this soon after my trip. I am writing this only 6 weeks later. The trip is still swirling around in my head in wonderful and curious ways. My quick answer to what can be learned is for you to go on your own trip. Plan it and complete it in your own way – for your own dreams. Make it truly “yours” and you will have a glimpse into what I learned.

What I can tell you is that my trip created and defined itself by the way I prepared for it. I suspect that I learned as much from preparing for the trip as I did from taking the trip. My hundreds of hours of reading (thousands?) about wilderness in general and Quetico in particular enriched my trip immeasurably. My reading also intertwined with the “Why?” of my trip. Individual stories of canoe camping, historic exploration and wilderness solitude helped me develop the kind of knowledgeable curiosity I wanted for the trip.

I learned that open-ended time is not just a luxury, but an often neglected necessity in life. It seldom happens on its own, but you can choose to make it happen.

I learned that one of the most delightful things about a solo trip can be the people you meet along the way. I had some very happy and helpful encounters with several groups and pairs of people. One group even serenaded me with voyageur songs in French! Just as satisfying: I was able to help several groups in various ways as well. The conversations and information exchanged were an enjoyable break from the solitude and often very informative.

I learned that I had far more support than I realized. I am deeply grateful for my loving husband, who cheered me on and supported my adventure at every step. I was grateful to my sons and parents who seemed to accept and take the news of my trip in stride as, “No problem. Just another one of the kinds of things she does.” I am grateful for my wonderful friends who did everything from giving helpful advice to sending e-mails of support to mailing letters while I was gone to attending my “last supper” the night before I left - and to my dear friend who drove me to Crane Lake to meet the airplane (OK, Carol, no names here).

I also learned that if you feel compelled to take a solo trip, you must do it. However, if you do not feel a “calling,” don’t. As in all of life, things seem to work out better if you follow your passion.

As for the “Why?” of my trip: My own fortunate circumstances and passion lead me to it. I love the wilderness and the North Country. I wanted to experience my solitary self in this particular wilderness. I wanted to give thanks, in my own way, to the many people who have fought to preserve what we have left of wilderness in general and for this wilderness in particular. I wanted to understand more about the spiritual benefits and challenges of solitude. I wanted the physical challenges as well as the psychological and spiritual ones. I wanted a new, fresh sense of accomplishment at age sixty. I wanted to grow as a person. I wanted to do this in a place I loved.

Perhaps a few photographs will help explain a little more. Going on your own trip will explain a lot more.

Quetico Lake

Morning on Canal Lake

Every beaver dam had its own challenges

Trust me -- not all portages were this easy!

Early Morning on North Bay of Basswood Lake

The end of the trip and a deeply satisfied smile...

What is your Walleye lure/rig of choice?

What is your favorite bait and fishing rig to use for walleye? I like using a floating spinner rig that is made here locally. The weight sits on the bottom and the float with small spinner keeps your bait up. My favorite is a nightcrawler, even when they're hitting on rainbow minnows or leeches. I think keeping your bait natural even though you might be using a gulp crawler is essential. Gamagatsu Hook #6 or #4 is good size if you make your own.

My favorite is a Winkum Spin-n-Float by JB Lures. We carry it here at Piragis. This is a great rig for fishing off shore from your campsite on drop-offs. Everyone loves walleye for dinner, so lay it on us, live-bait, artificial, lures, what is your favorite producer?

Dinner in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE Boundary Waters dinner? Do you save it for the last day? Special dessert? Tell us what you think.  Favorite recipes?  Share em!

The FIRST DAY of our TWO MONTH CANOE SALE

March 1st through April 1st.

Take advantage of our first ever two month canoe sale. 10% off on every new canoe. We won't be hosting Sunsplash this year, but every day can be Sunsplash at Piragis. If you're buying a new kelvar canoe this year, you're not going to find a better price than ours. Call us today 1-800-223-6565 Free delivery within 500 miles of Ely. Further deliveries available upon request, call for quote.