Camp chairs! I never imagined such a thing, but after reading about them here, I bought a couple and they're great.

A tarp. Again, I never imagined having a tarp on a canoe trip, but I have one now. I won't always use it, but I'll take it on some trips.

Plastics for smallmouth. I still haven't had much success with them, but I'm open to them now and will try them again this summer.

A couple canoeing buddies, one for this summer and one for next.

A better sense of the myriad canoes available, plus the impetus to buy a new canoe and go Kevlar.

How about you? What have you learned/acquired here?

Well a picture is worth a thousand words to me and all of the pics of gear being used in a trip or at a campsite helped me immensly. Learned a lot about how to do a lake trip vs. the local river trips I was accustomed to. I've brought alot of it back home. Specifically portage packs instead of my hiking backpacks and the right way to portage.

My two favorite tips that I've learned are basketball nets for anchors, and a French press for coffee.

too much to list all in one post...

I think I have picked up many little tips and some good information. But you can do that on any website.

The value of bwca.com for me is in learning that you can actually form relationships with people you meet online. They will support you in times of crisis, pray for you when you need prayers, give you advice when you ask for it (and sometimes when you don't), give you a pat on the back when you deserve it, correct you when you are mistaken (usually quite politely, but not always), offer to loan you gear, take a trip with you, give you a ride or a place to stay. . . .and just generally care for you. Sincerely care for you.

That's a friend, isn't it? I have friends on the Internet.

To someone who is in their twenties, that probably doesn't seem odd at all, but to a conservatively-raised small-town woman in her mid-60's, that concept is, on many levels, quite remarkable.

I have friends here. That's what I've learned. And that knowledge is pure gold.

- that there are other fanatics like meeeeeeee!
- that there are other good tents besides Timberlines
- concept of a ditch kit
- various safety scenarios
- it's OK to be a full time "innie", I'm in good company

quote apugarcia: "... basketball nets for anchors..."

That's a big one, but also lots of recipes and route/lake advice. Also several gear threads have been helpful.

But it's hard to top interacting with a bunch of canoeing fanatics.

Spartan 2........nice reply and I agree. I'm new to the forum, but feel like I'm making productive contacts and have learned a TON.

BTW...what's an "inne" ?

quote cinna: "BTW...what's an "inne" ?"

Innie = a tent's "ground cloth" used inside the tent

Outtie = a tent's "ground cloth" used under the tent.

There are arguments both ways to which one is better. An "outtie" protects the underside of the tent's floor, keeping it clean and, in theory, protecting it from sharp objects, all while keeping water from leaching up through the floor fabric. The bad part about an outtie is if the ground cloth sticks out from under the tent, it can act like a rain catcher and trap water under your tent.

An "innie" is the same plastic (or whatever material) sheet that is normally placed under the tent, but it's placed inside the tent after the tent is erected. It acts like the last layer of protection if water leaches into the tent through the floor. The bad part here is you're resigned to the fact that water is going to get in the tent in the first place.

IMO, the only true method is to use both, but arguments can go both ways.

Welcome to our crazy group, cinna! In no time you will feel like you fit in.

"innie" vs. "outie" is the constant debate about whether to put your plastic protective sheet underneath the tent or inside on the floor. People have definite preferences, and some odd folks like us even do both! LOL!

Oops. I see Jackfish beat me to the answer.

To be honest, I haven't learned much more about the art of canoe tripping, but have gained a real appreciation for the wide variety of folks here who love the canoe country and canoe tripping. That's why I check out this site more than any other.

I was an avid backpacker before, but completely green to the concept of canoe tripping. While there are lots of similarities, it is surprising how many differences there are. This site has been invaluable to my crossover.

I've learned about stoves, tarps, blue barrels, coffee presses and a bunch of other stuff. I just have to keep from going broke buying new gear....

quote mc2mens: "too much to list all in one post..."

It would be faster for me to list the 4 or 5 things I didn't learn here

This is probably the one board with the greatest concentration of wilderness trippers compared to other forums

And gearheads! Now I won't look at a piece of gear unless I find recommendations here.

And I am always on the lookout for new menu ideas. And I do find them here.

1) Sawyer water filters
2) How to keep and spell leeches
3) be careful how you word a post (please don't be upset)
4) blue barrels for stashing vs. hanging (always a pain)
5) how to keep food cold
6) where to go (including places I don't care to go)
7) tons of laughs
8) many others also wet foot with wool socks and running shoes
9) portage etiquette
10)The boats with flying moose stickers hold friendly people :)

Lots of info on fishing spots, lures and portages. Using an empty plastic gallon milk jug tied to the bow for a water container at camp, coffee in a tea filter for morning brews, foam piping on the gunnels to minimize leg scrapes during long paddles, a canvas remnant to keep fillets cool during the day.

Oh, and something about green poop! LMAO!

quote PineKnot: "Oh, and something about green poop! LMAO! "

+1, yep - never would have known about that otherwise!

Several tips on gear and places to go, etc. Most important is the capacity to share stories that trigger memories of BWCA/Quetico alive all year long and sharing those with others even though there is not campfire to sit around. Might be some of that camp coffee additive from time to time.
Also meeting people and looking forward to meeting more. Thanks all.

That theres some really amazing people here, and some of the things people have done for each other on this site reinforces my hope for humanity .

LIke Spartan2 and others: friends. Some incredibly special ones. Love that most of all.

quote OneMatch: "LIke Spartan2 and others: friends. Some incredibly special ones. Love that most of all."

What Jerry said. :)

I'm considering a smaller tackle box, but on some days, I lose half as many lures as some of you carry.

The most important acquisition for me is the Family of fanitics so much like me that I have become a part of at this site. You're all my brothers and sisters.

a whole bunch of great friends! And solo paddling is much more popular than I ever thought.

butthead

It's fun to get others thoughts before a big purchase.

One example:

Without others input I'd of bought the gravity filter that clogs more and with input I got one that can be back flushed to last longer.

And another plus to Spartan 2's post. It was very cool to have warm thoughts conveyed while going through the passing of my dad. And it's rewarding to me to be able to do the same to others.

Gear is gear and has a dollar value... Friendships like we have here are priceless.

Gonna miss the computer and this site when I'm gone so much.

Moderation works.

to appreciate better beer. (thanks barley and kurps)

That there may be a need for a BWCAW seven step program.

ive acquired friends here who like to trip like i do, none of my friends around home are willing.

quote BWPaddler: "- that there are other fanatics like meeeeeeee!


- it's OK to be a full time "innie", I'm in good company"

DITTO - Especially the first!

The single best piece of gear I've ever taken is a Drift Sock.

WOW. I never knew what I was missing.

I also now take a lantern and a tarp. Things that rarely went 10 years ago. AND I now take some type of oven....either my Omnia or a reflector.

Speaking of my Omnia oven, check this out.

Wonder Pot

Later,

Geo

The special people I have been able to meet from this board has been a lot of fun! Adam, the Spartans 1&2, Satchmoa, Brad (Mooseplums), set-the-hook, paddlefasterpastorand more!! I am lookin, to try and meet more, this summer. It is difficult when you live so far away from the Wing nights.

Bruce

quote Arkansas Man: "The special people I have been able to meet from this board has been a lot of fun! Adam, the Spartans 1&2, Satchmoa, Brad (Mooseplums), set-the-hook, paddlefasterpastorand more!! I am lookin, to try and meet more, this summer. It is difficult when you live so far away from the Wing nights.

Bruce"

remember, let me know when youll be coming thru.

While I've learned much from the experiences and advice from everyone, what is special about this group is the shared passion and appreciation for this magnificent paddling wonderland.

Drift chute
Sitbacker
How to troll from a canoe
Sharing of solo anxieties
Many thoughts on equipment that helped me narrow my choices
Commiserating on aging
Sharing the loss of Gus, my dog

Canoe language and anatomy of canoes. Things like yoke, thwart, gunwales, trim, bow, stern, waterline, rocker, j stroke, c stroke, painter lines, hull, hull matsrials like kevlar, graphite, fiberglass, royalex, aluminum, wood and canvas, woodstrip. And so on and so on.

Tons about gear whether that be footwear, tarps, packs, tents, water filters or canoes and paddles.

Lots about tripping, how to trip, what to pack, where to go. Ive especially learned how to plan and route trips and am much better at figuring out where i can reasonably expect to make it on a day to day basis.

quote GeoFisher: "The single best piece of gear I've ever taken is a Drift Sock.

WOW. I never knew what I was missing.

I also now take a lantern and a tarp. Things that rarely went 10 years ago. AND I now take some type of oven....either my Omnia or a reflector.

Speaking of my Omnia oven, check this out.

Wonder Pot

Later,

Geo"

Who knew that JMO's had been around since 1950's and invented in Israel? And with Jello roots from mid 1800's, I guess it took 100 years to figure it out.

quote Jeriatric: "Drift chute
Sitbacker
How to troll from a canoe
Sharing of solo anxieties
Many thoughts on equipment that helped me narrow my choices
Commiserating on aging
Sharing the loss of Gus, my dog"

Yeah, it was cool to talk freely about growing old, wasn't it?

A whole lot... but I'll list 3:
--Gamma Lid on 5-gal pail
--Voyageur Dip
--Tyvek for tarps.

bungee deely bobs

quote butthead: " a whole bunch of great friends! And solo paddling is much more popular than I ever thought.


butthead"

+1..... and picked up a few new ideas too

More than one tarp (Tyvek)
BB net for an anchor
got some great,used gear from ewes people