BWCA Prairie Portage shuttle? Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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      Prairie Portage shuttle?     

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Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/13/2017 07:29PM  
Hello! I was wondering if anyone could recommend an outfitter that shuttles out to Prairie portage? I won't be needing any gear or a canoe, just somewhere to stay the night before leaving and then the shuttle. I've only done trips via the Gunflint trail, so I don't have any experience with the Ely area outfitters. Any info would be appreciated, thanks in advance!
 
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marsonite
distinguished member(2484)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/13/2017 07:59PM  
I've always used Latourelles. They are right next to the public landing. Good service, friendly people.
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1984)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/13/2017 08:26PM  
Are you going solo? Latourells has a two person minimum charge, I believe. Williams and Hall has, at least for me, waived the two person charge when I go alone.
billconner
distinguished member(8764)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/13/2017 08:34PM  
I use CCO. Private parking, several lodging options.
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/13/2017 08:47PM  
quote GraniteCliffs: "Are you going solo? Latourells has a two person minimum charge, I believe. Williams and Hall has, at least for me, waived the two person charge when I go alone. "


I'm glad you asked because I am going solo, thanks for the info!
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/13/2017 08:50PM  
quote billconner: "I use CCO. Private parking, several lodging options."


Thanks Bill, checking out their website now!
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/13/2017 08:51PM  
quote marsonite: "I've always used Latourelles. They are right next to the public landing. Good service, friendly people."


Thanks for the info!
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1984)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/13/2017 08:59PM  
All of them are pretty darn good outfitters. Prices are similar as are services and bunkhouses.
dentondoc
distinguished member(1094)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/13/2017 09:28PM  
I've used CBO (Canadian Border Outfitters) for several years (not every year of course). This year, for the third time, rather than ending our shuttle at Prairie Portage, we are continuing on to Lincoln Island (nearer the west side of Basswood Lake).

CBO also has a bunk house and shower facility, a motel if you prefer more traditional lodging (with on suite facilities) and, if so inclined, a cook shack (where you can get breakfast and/or dinner). They also have a fairly well stocked store for last minute purchases.

dd
thinblueline
distinguished member (475)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/14/2017 03:04PM  
Every one of these outfitters advertises a two person minimum fee for tow/shuttle service. Whether or not they abide by that is a different story I guess, but a guy has to plan to pay double if he can't join another tandem for the boat ride.
02/14/2017 03:20PM  
I've used Williams and Hall. Bunk, breakfast, tow to PP and back, shower.......all good.
02/14/2017 05:10PM  
quote marsonite: "I've always used Latourelles. They are right next to the public landing. Good service, friendly people."


+1. There are several good outfitters on the lake, each with their own following. I've used Bob's service but I hear good things about Williams and Canadian Border Outfitters to name a few.
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1984)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/15/2017 11:49AM  
The mandatory two person charge was, at least a few years ago, not negotiable at one of the outfitters. I had been towed on group trips several times a year for 30 years but still got nowhere with them. I offered to adjust my time to ride with someone else but was told that was not an option. I liked them, never had a problem with them and felt they had always been fair with me but thirty bucks is thirty bucks.
I moved to Williams and Hall (or Hall and Oates as we call them) and they waived the two person charge and did not even ask me to adjust my time to ride with someone else. As a result I now not only take the solo trip through them but have steered the other group trips I take every year through them as well. Nice folks
02/15/2017 01:24PM  
Just slightly skewed from topic but a lot of outfitter tows are empty in one direction or the other. It is possible to bargain for an ride on an empty leg. Yes it may require a way to communicate and flexible scheduling. I have snagged a few empty return runs, and a lot of afternoon tows are empty going out.

butthead
QueticoMike
distinguished member(5297)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/16/2017 04:06PM  
I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them.
02/16/2017 08:47PM  
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "


Totally agree. They are the best at what they do, and they do not have a 2 person minimum.
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/17/2017 07:21PM  
quote Frenchy19: "
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "



Totally agree. They are the best at what they do, and they do not have a 2 person minimum. "


Checking out their website and its exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation.
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/17/2017 07:22PM  
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "


Thanks for the recommendation, will most likely be going through them.
QueticoMike
distinguished member(5297)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/18/2017 10:37AM  
quote Haze311: "
quote Frenchy19: "
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "




Totally agree. They are the best at what they do, and they do not have a 2 person minimum. "



Checking out their website and its exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation. "


Did you see the fish picture on their website with that guy holding up a big pike? :-)
Talk to Dave, he will help you out with anything you need.
thinblueline
distinguished member (475)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/18/2017 05:45PM  
quote Frenchy19: "
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "



Totally agree. They are the best at what they do, and they do not have a 2 person minimum. "


Their website clearly states two person minimum tow fee. Also the tow to Prairie portage is $26 with full outfitting, and $33 with partial outfitting.

QueticoMike
distinguished member(5297)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/19/2017 09:36AM  
W+H has never charged me for a 2 person tow during any of my solo trips. Maybe they just like me? Give Dave a call and see what he says.
thinblueline
distinguished member (475)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/19/2017 12:11PM  
I believe you guys when you say you weren't charged the two person minimum. I'm just saying that despite several proclaiming there is no two person minimum, the fact is the website clearly states there is. I'm just looking out for the random solo guy that makes his decision to go with W & H based on this thread's claim there is no double charge, then finds himself getting double charged. He'd be asking WTF, these guys all said there is no double charge. I don't know if they're abiding by what their website states 100 percent of the time or not, but it's something guys ought to get clarified before committing to them, unless they don't mind that kind of surprise.
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/19/2017 03:18PM  
quote QueticoMike: "
quote Haze311: "
quote Frenchy19: "
quote QueticoMike: "I always used Williams and Hall. I highly recommend them. "




Totally agree. They are the best at what they do, and they do not have a 2 person minimum. "




Checking out their website and its exactly what I'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation. "



Did you see the fish picture on their website with that guy holding up a big pike? :-)
Talk to Dave, he will help you out with anything you need."


I did see the picture, what a monster! I'll definitely be talking with Dave :)
Haze311
senior member (54)senior membersenior member
  
02/19/2017 03:19PM  
quote thinblueline: "I believe you guys when you say you weren't charged the two person minimum. I'm just saying that despite several proclaiming there is no two person minimum, the fact is the website clearly states there is. I'm just looking out for the random solo guy that makes his decision to go with W & H based on this thread's claim there is no double charge, then finds himself getting double charged. He'd be asking WTF, these guys all said there is no double charge. I don't know if they're abiding by what their website states 100 percent of the time or not, but it's something guys ought to get clarified before committing to them, unless they don't mind that kind of surprise."


Yeah, I noticed the 2 person minimum too. Even if I get double the tow fee, they look to have everything I'm looking for and seem to be highly regarded. I'll be contacting them expecting to get changed double and maybe I'll get a pleasant surprise.
QueticoMike
distinguished member(5297)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/19/2017 06:00PM  
quote thinblueline: "I believe you guys when you say you weren't charged the two person minimum. I'm just saying that despite several proclaiming there is no two person minimum, the fact is the website clearly states there is. I'm just looking out for the random solo guy that makes his decision to go with W & H based on this thread's claim there is no double charge, then finds himself getting double charged. He'd be asking WTF, these guys all said there is no double charge. I don't know if they're abiding by what their website states 100 percent of the time or not, but it's something guys ought to get clarified before committing to them, unless they don't mind that kind of surprise."


Good looking out for the solo guy........ it is best to call and talk with them about any and all charges to clarify before you book anything at any outfitter. Good luck with your trip!
02/25/2017 11:02PM  
A lot of outfitters will try to group you with another person or small group. At least that was my experience.

T
02/28/2017 10:44AM  
FYI--We have always used LaTourell's and if we need a tow back to Moose Lake earlier or later than our scheduled pick up we will call them, either with a cell phone (which sometimes works from the interior) or with a satellite phone which we rent from them (we're all old geezers--our wives require us to carry one). They will always accommodate us if possible--they usually have a boat on the water coming or going during peak season that they can reroute. You can also paddle over to the truck portage at Prairie Portage and arrange a tow with whoever's there (usually Mindy LaTourell). One time when we had a pickup arranged for Back Bay Jeep was there with two tow boats to meet us and asked us to drive one of them back for him. Good luck keeping up with Jeep, even in his 70's.

02/28/2017 03:26PM  
If LaTourell's concession at the road portage is up and running, you can stop in there and they will radio down to the main office to have a boat sent up to you. I did this last Spring when I came out early.
 
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