Complete Outfitting / Services
OUTFITTING PHILOSOPHY
Portages can be the most challenging obstacle in the Canoe Country. Williams and Hall are dedicated to outfitting with "One Pack Per Person for a Seven Day Trip." What this means is one trip across the portage, not two or more. This makes the portages easier, and the easier the portages the more likely you are to go further back into the woods and find better fishing, solitude, and wildlife. The secret is the equipment. We provide the lightest weight gear available to achieve our objective.
Quality of Equipment
As North America's only outfitter specializing in ultra-lightweight outfitting, our canoes, tents, sleeping bags, packs and food are custom made to our specifications.
The Best Canoes
We outfit with We-No-Nah Kevlar canoes. We also use lightweight Alumicraft aluminum canoes. The canoes weigh in from 42 to 65 lbs and are designed specifically for our lakes and portages. We often offer prototypes of models before they are offered to the public. We were the first outfitter to outfit with these top of the line Kevlar canoes.
The Best Equipment
We were also the first outfitter to offer the "Granite Gear" & "Kondos" Ballistics Cloth packs with controlled weight distribution, padded curved shoulder straps and hip belts. We were the first outfitter to offer Therma-Rest self-inflating sleeping pads by Cascade Design.
The Best Food
Our ultra-lightweight food is specially packed with our label by Richmoor Foods, Backpacker's Pantry, and Cache Lake. This freeze dried food has come a long way in recent years, and you will find it represents an excellent value by saving weight and bulk without sacrificing flavor and nutrition. View the choices on our menu here.
COMPLETE OUTFITTING PACKAGES
We offer two complete packages. Pricing information is located below the descriptions.
Ultra Lightweight
Includes excellent equipment and food to meet all of your needs for a canoe trip in BWCAW/Quetico.
- Alumacraft lightweight aluminum canoes with carrying yoke.
- Paddles (straight or bent shaft)
- Stearns life jackets
- Slumberjack Everest Elite sleeping bags
- Therma-rest self inflating sleeping pad (3/4 length)
- Eureka Timberline nylon tent w/rain fly
- Aluminum cook kit with utensils
- Poly/vinyl dining fly
- Aluminum griddle and large fire grate
- Choice of ultra-lightweight food (see menu)
- Granite Gear or Kondos packs with padded hip and shoulder pads
- Granite Gear or Kondos food packs w/ hip and shoulder pads
- Rope and pulley system for hanging food packs
- Camp saw
- Tent sweep
- Hand trowel
- 50' light nylon cord
- Optional Items:
- Coleman 2 burner stove with fuel
- Axe
- Kevlar canoe additional charge of $15.00/day/canoe
Ultra Lightweight Plus
This is our top-of-the-line extra lightweight package. This package includes many of the options in the Ultra Lightweight Outfitting, "PLUS" some new innovations. Our PLUS package reduces the weight one has to carry over portages by at least 15 pounds per person. It includes the following upgrades from our Ultra Lightweight package.
- State-of-the-art We-No-Nah Kevlar canoes w/carrying yoke & aluminum sling pads
- Kelty sleeping bags
- Therma-rest self inflating sleeping pads (full length)
- Stainless steel nesting cook kit
- Lightweight ripstop nylon dining fly
- New Eureka free-standing nylon tents
- Granite Gear pack w/padded hip and shoulder pads
- Kondos food pack w/padded hip and shoulder pads
- Lightweight fabric buckets
- Lightweight Backpacking propane stove w/fuel
- Lantern
Fishing & Watercraft Regulations
Full outfitting 2007 Rates Per Person Per Day.
ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT PACKAGE
# of Days |
1-5 people |
6-9 people |
10+ people |
ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT PLUS PACKAGE
# of Days |
1-5 people |
6-9 people |
10+ people |
Please also see our section on camping permits.
Partial Outfitting
Have your own gear? No problem. We do partial outfitting as well as complete outfitting. We are happy to fill in the gaps in your gear and equipment. Call us at (800) 322-5837, or E-mail us at canoe@williamsandhall.com for a price quotation today.
|
Item
|
Day Rate |
*No charge with canoe or boat rental
|
Item |
Day Rate |
Sleeping Gear |
Sleeping Bags |
6.00 |
Packs |
Equipment |
6.00 |
Food |
Complete Ultra Lightweight Menu w/pack (per person/day) |
35.00 |
Misc. Items |
Ax/sheath |
4.80 |
NOTE: All rates subject to applicable taxes. Mimimum partial outfitting charge is $50.00 Deposit for partial outfitting is $100.00.
VAN TRANSPORATION
Per Vehicle Each Way
Entry Point Complete Outfitting Partial Outfitting
Lake One no charge $25.00
Snowbank Lake no charge 40.00
Wood/Ojibway no charge 25.00
Fall Lake $25.00 60.00
Mudro Lake 100.00 125.00
Nina-Moose Lake 130.00 150.00
For those flying into Hibbing, Duluth or Minneapolis airports, we can supply the names and numbers of local taxis and car rentals. Please contact our office for more details.
CANOE TOW SERVICE
Per Person Each Way (Minimum tow charge 2 person rate)
Entry Point Complete Outfitting Partial Outfitting
Ensign Portage $22.00 $26.00
Prairie Portage/Birch Lake 25.00 29.00
Washington Island 85.00 90.00
Back Bay 95.00 100.00
10% Discount on round trip tows. Youth 15 and under ½ price when accompanied by a parent. 3% USFS User Fee on US tows.
ORIENTATION and ROUTING
Based upon your need, we provide a very thorough orientation program prior to your departure. We will familiarize you with your canoe and teach basic canoeing skills that will insure a safe and more enjoyable trip. We will show you how to select a tent site and erect a tent. All of our camping equipment will be reviewed. The techniques of outdoor cooking and your personalized food menu will be discussed in detail. This orientation coupled with our extensive and detailed map routing of your trip will thoroughly prepare you for a memorable experience.
Routes and Routing
The Canoe Country is a vast area, and from our post on Moose Lake you can strike out in any direction. It is important that you choose the route that is best for you. You may desire a challenging or more relaxing circular route, or you may prefer to set up a base camp, one or two days out, and make side trips from there. Whatever the case, we will help you make the final selection of your route. We will go over the route in detail on large-scale waterproof maps, marking the best campsites, fishing holes, and points of interest, such as Indian pictographs and waterfalls.
WHAT TO BRING LIST
Each of our Complete Outfitting guests should bring the following personal items:
- 1 pr of sturdy cotton trousers (jeans are fine)
- 1 heavy wool shirt and 1 cotton shirt
- 2 sets of underwear
- 1 medium weight pr of long (insulated) underwear
(Spring & Fall trips)
- hat and gloves (Spring & Fall trips)
- 3 prs of medium weight wool socks
- Reliable 2-piece set of raingear
- Shoes with ankle support
- 1 extra pr of comfortable shoes for around camp
- Toilet Kit (including Small personal towel)
- SUNSCREEN (Very Important)
- Flashlight (A headlamp works best.)
- Compass
- Knife/Sharpening Stone
- Matches in a waterproof case
- Sewing/Repair Kit
- INSECT REPELLENT (Very Important)
- First Aid Kit (Know how to use what you bring.)
- Optional: Camera/film, book to read, journal,
deck of cards, etc.
Personal gear should be contained in dry bags or plastic bags. We will provide the large canoe packs for your trip once you arrive at our base.