Saturday, May 13, 2017

Foss Lake Prescribed Burn, May 14, 2017

Date Issued:
May 13, 2017. Anticipated ignition as early as May 14, 2017. The date of ignition for this fire is dependent on many factors including fuel and soil moisture, wind direction, current weather, predicted weather, and resources.  

Prescribed Fire Information:
218-208-3969 or snfwestzonepio@gmail.com. For more prescribed fire information, check the Superior National Forest website: Prescribed Fire Information 

Location:
In northeastern Minnesota, in St. Louis County on the LaCroix Ranger District of the Superior National Forest approximately 10 miles west of Ely, MN and north of the Wolf Lake Road, between Foss Lake and the BWCAW. T63N R14W S35. (Map attached.) 

Description:
The purpose of this 78-acre unit is for both fuels reduction and oak/blueberry habitat improvement. The area is a combination of open rock outcroppings and forested drainages where fuels treatment can both help reduce surface and ladder fuels and reduce vegetation that competes with oak trees and blueberry plants. Reducing the hazardous fuels component in this unit is part of a larger fuels treatment effort in the Burntside Lake area. This unit will create another area in addition to recent Burntside Lake prescribed fire units where available fuels in the forest are reduced and therefore lower the intensity of future wildfires when they occur.

Resources: 
Holding crews and ignition crews of firefighters using hand tools will be working directly on the prescribed fire unit.  Due to the remote location of this unit, crews will be using ATVs and hiking to gain access for holding and ignition operations.

Closures:
There will be no closures needed during this prescribed fire. Depending on wind direction, some residents and visitors may experience smoke, potentially on Burntside and Wolf Lakes, or Crab, Buck, Cummings, Slim Lakes in the BWCAW.



Superior National Forest           US Forest Service 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Countdown to MN Fishing Opener 2017

Are you ready for the 2017 MN fishing opener this Saturday May 13, 12:01 am?  We are at Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitter & Outdoor Store, Ely MN.  We have gallons of rainbow & fatheads minnows,  lite northern suckers, crawlers, leeches, wax worms and just delivered today; golden shiners, pike suckers and heavy or large suckers.

Minnows are the bait of choice for the opener....not our choice, but walleyes, smallmouth bass and northern pike are choosey and have requested minnows!

The weather is forecasted to be great; sunny with temperatures in the low to mid 60s. Water temperatures are cold, but make sure you where your life jackets. This is the #1 way to keep yourself safe while fishing or boating.

Fishing license?
Be sure to have a 2017 MN fishing license with you. Forgetting it and claiming you have one back at your camp or cabin is not a good excuse. Other have tried this approach and not gotten very far with a MN DNR Conservation Officer.

Will you practice C.P.R. on your fish this year? 
That is Catch, Photograph, and Release the big ones.  Why? They are smart old ladies, but you out smarted her this time. She may be 10-20 years old and you are going to eat her or turn her over to a taxidermist? She is the good breeding stock for the lake. The big ones deserve to be caught again. So we request you do CPR on your fish and take home the smaller ones which are better for eating.

Spirit of the Wilderness is open 6:00 am - 9:00 pm every day until late October. Visit our bait & tackle shop for up-to-date fishing information.

We also provide complete & partial outfitting, canoe/kayak/SUP board rental, tow boat service on; Moose lake chain, Snowbank lake and Burntside lake to Crab lake portage. Our in-town bunkhouse has been remodeled adding new restrooms with showers, A/C or heat, kitchen facility for light meals, fridge, stove and more. Call for details or make a reservation: 218-365-3149

See you soon in Ely.

Prescribed Fire Information May 10, 2017

Date Issued: May 10, 2017

Prescribed Fire Information: 218-208-3969 or snfwestzonepio@gmail.com. For more prescribed fire information, check the Superior National Forest website: Prescribed Fire Information 

Yesterday’s Actions: On May 9, 2017 firefighters from the Superior National Forest, Montana, and Oregon successfully burned the 30 acre Old Baldy Prescribed Fire Unit and the 41 acre North Arm 8 Prescribed Fire Unit both located north of the North Arm of Burntside Lake and south of Slim Lake and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Good weather conditions of wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity helped produce a very nice understory burn for fuels reduction and ecosystem management. 

Both of these prescribed fire units are well contained and will be patrolled for hotspots. 

Description: The purpose of these prescribed fires is fuel reduction and ecosystem management. Both units border a series of completed prescribed fires along the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Once completed, these fires will provide a buffer between the BWCAW and homes and camps on the North Arm Road.  Another purpose is habitat restoration for ecosystem management.  Fire kills brush and trees and opens the canopy to sun-loving plants like blueberries and oaks. The conditions under which we burned these units was designed to meet these objectives.

Location:  In northeastern Minnesota, in St. Louis County on the Kawishiwi Ranger District on the Superior National Forest northwest of the town of Ely just south of Slim Lake, outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). LEGAL: T64N R13W S27; Lat/Long: 47’ 59.355” x 91’ 58.615” (Map attached.) 

Resources:  Firefighter crews and an engine will be on site today patrolling for hotspots and monitoring the prescribed fire units.

Closures:  The southern-most campsite on Slim Lake is still closed.  Portions of the Moosehorn Loop, Old Baldy, and Slim Lake trails of the North Arm ski/hiking trail system (between the trailhead at Camp du Nord and Slim Lake) remain closed for another day or two.   

Superior National Forest Forest Service
UPDATE

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

2017 Sport Show Shedule

Spirit of the Wilderness Canoe Outfitters will be at Sport Shows in March & April. This is a great time to get some face to face BWCA trip planning with us. We are happy to help plan and book your 2017 summer BWCA canoe trip at any of the shows. 

We will have seminars at all the shows. Watch for reminder posts on Facebook about the seminar dates and times. 

Sport Show & Seminar Schedule:

  • Canoecopia - Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI - March 10-12, 2017, Booth #N11
    • Friday, March 10 - 5:30pm - Fishing the BWCA
    • Friday, March 10 - 7:30pm - Packing and PLanning for a BWCA Canoe Trip
    • Sunday, March 12 - 11:30am - Fishing the BWCA
    • Sunday, March 12 - 1:30pm - BWCA Sites to Visit
  • The Ultimate Sport Show - Devos Place in Grand Rapids, MI - March 16-19, 2017, Booth #1300
    • Seminars to be announced
  • The Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo - Hamline University in St. Paul, MN - March 17-19, 2017, Booth #19
    • Saturday, March 18 - 3:45pm & 4:45pm - Fly Fishing the BWCA
  • The Northwest Sport Show - Minneapolis COnvention Center in Minneapolis, MN - March 23-26, 2017, Booth #637
    • Friday, March 24 - 1pm - Unique BWCA Sites to Visit
    • Sunday, March 26, Noon - What to Pack for your BWCA Canoe Trip
  • Midwest Moutaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo - Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, MN April 28-30, 2017
    • Seminars to be announced


Can't make it to a show? Call us at 218-365-3189 or 800-950-2709 or email us at info@elycanoetrips.com.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

BWCA permit lottery Deadline for 2017

Tomorrow, January 11, 2017 is the last day to submit your application for the BWCA Permit Lottery.

   
This is the time to submit a lottery permit application for Moose Lake and Fall Lake Overnight Motor permits, Day Use Motor Permits and Overnight Paddling Permits.  The deadline to get your permit applicaiton in is Wednesday, January 11, 2017.  

If you want a motor permit for this summer you will need to enter the permit lottery by tomorrow.

Spirit of the Wilderness can correctly submit your lottery applications.  Just give us a call today or tomorrow.

All other BWCA overnight paddling permits can be reserved starting 9 AM central time on Wednesday, January 25th, 2017.


Contact Spirit of the Wilderness at 218-365-3149 or 800-950-2709  OR email us at info@elycanoetrips.com

Sunday, January 1, 2017

2017 Sportshows Spirit of the Wilderness will attend

March 16-19, 2017 - Ultimate Sport Show Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids, MI 
- Come visit our booth and talk about your trip. 
- Watch for updates on seminars we will be doing


March 10-12, 2017 - Canoecopia Paddle Sport Show in Madison, WI 
-We will have a booth & ready to book your BWCA & Quetico adventures for the summer.
- Steve & Ginny will be giving a couple seminars - Fishing the BWCA, Top 10+ Unique BWCA Sites to Visit & Packing and Planning for a BWCA canoe trip.

March 23-26, 2017 - Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, MN
-Stop by the booth for great early BWCA trip booking deals.
- Steve will again be presenting a seminar about BWCA trips - to be confirmed.

April 28-30, 2017 - Midwest Outdoor Expo - Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, MN
- Seminars to be confirmed

Thursday, December 15, 2016

AT&T cell phone customers

For some reason people that have the AT&T cell phone provider are having issues using our 800#.  If you need to reach Spirit of the Wilderness and have AT&T please use 218-365-3149.

Seems that all other cell phone providers can us the 800-950-2709 phone number.