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Why Are You Here?

Joined
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The Hereford Zone along the Mason-Dixon Line
A Message Board Participation Question

I’ve been dipping into Canoe Tripping more than usual of late, sometimes just to find an old photo or how-to post, and the frequent visits got me thinking about the why.

As always, for the discussions, for canoe curiosity questions asked and answered, knowledge freely shared, some humor, some frivolity, some different-strokes debate.

With the arrival of Spring the ebb and flow of CT has been King Tide lively of late, while the great white north lags behind, ISO ice-out and blackfly season soon to follow.

(Speaking of which - King Tides, not bloodsuckers and biters - I’d like to get a coastal NC paddle in before it gets too buggy. April is tidal action barren, but the third week of May, if still unbuggy cool, could be a King Tide speedy ride in and free ride out if timed correctly)

https://nckingtides.web.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/9933/2021/12/2022-nckt-calendar.pdf

Back to message board participation, for me, Canoe Tripping is oft visited as a source for answering “how-to” questions. I’m sure someone posted a past thread about that. Ah, there it is, a how-to guide for doing XYZ! A description of the process, with photos! Thanks, one click and there’s the answer.

Which leads to a couple of questions:

How did you find or stumble upon Canoe Tripping?

For me Canoe Tripping was the at-first-temporary Willis-clone of the Solo Tripping site when ST got hacked and later vanished. Making the jump, along with an already familiar cast of tripper characters in the same format, was an easy transition.

And, what keeps you coming back?

I keep coming back because this remains a remarkably polite community, especially considering the increasing diversity of contributors. Posts and discussions are usually offered without a lot of anger or grievance.

There is sub-text at times, but the quality of suggestions, recommendations and shared knowledge has largely remained top-notch, and contributors will go above and beyond to share what they know and have done successfully or, even better, admit having having failed at don’t-do-this.

There are probably more lessons to share in admitting eff-ups than in proclaiming untested successes. Those illustrative confessions are invaluable, and there aren’t many obviously untried or un-evaluated suggestions posted to Canoe Tripping.

Hey ALSG, those failed G/flex vinyl pads we put on YAER, car topped home too soon before the G/flex set up on the vee bottom, would make a great don’t do this example. I ain’t proud, and shoulda known better.

That was revealing to me; I know better now, and won’t make the same mistake on one of my own canoes.
 
My feet hurt from being on them all day at food pantry, and I don't want to wash the bathroom floor right now though the mop is pestering me.

I like the variety of tripping experiences and areas and the wide gamut of just what is canoeing.. From those who would love a light canoe with float tanks filled to order with helium to those who can wander in the forest and build their own and buy absolutely the minimum.
All of our canoe journeys are different.

I have been here from before Willis posted Good Bye. That was a chilling day. I hope none of us feels that is necessary in our own lives.
OK. Its a virtual campfire. I can bring my $10 a bottle Prairie Bomb and Haslam his $0.10 Bud Light and we both will have a good time.

dang that bathroom floor mop should shut up.
 
I found it because I have always looked for stand-alone forums over Facebook groups or subreddits.

I stay because it has enough action that something new is posted every time I log on. Also, I have always found responses to questions extraordinarily thorough. The breadth of experience on the site is extraordinary.

And x2 on the politeness factor. I have moderated several boards where that was simply not the case
 
I built a Kite and was getting ready to built a another stripper when, presumably from a Google search, I found Stripperguys post about his recently completed Kite. I could relate to his build style and methodology and decided to do a build thread on my new one on this site. I had no idea how many were to follow.

I was already a member of paddling.net, BWCA.com, and myccr.com at the time.

Alan
 
I googled a wood and canvas builder’s name in my area looking for his phone number a couple years ago and came across a post from Robin and the number.

I stick around for the wealth of knowledge, generous decent folks, and I enjoy the frame of mind it puts me in. My job is hurry up and wait most days and not always pleasant. Thinking about the next trip or build/repair is a welcomed distraction a few quick moments throughout the day.
 
Maybe a result of solo tripping or a mention on another canoe forum.

Learning and questions. I didn't start canoeing till 50 (70 now) so just learning. Tips on places to canoe, gear, food - all good.
 
I was one of those googlers looking for answers during Covid and found more than i searched for. I became a member of my first forum. Since then, I’ve read many of your posts, trip reports, how to’s, routes, modifications and looked at many pictures. I keep coming back because I’m completely in love with paddling, the gear, the tripping and the community. I love seeing someone get hyped on a new piece of gear. Or a trip they just did. Or retelling a story from “back in the day”. To me, this is life! These stories. The trials. And connections. It’s a feel good site

I have gained new appreciation for the entire canoe culture and community. My sea kayak and white water friends are similar, but there’s something about this place thet really does feel like a fireside chat. So I hope to stay for a while and contribute when I can.
 
I keep coming back because I'm interested in the content and what others have to say. Like Mike says, remarkably polite community. Many times I have nothing to add to a conversation, but I always read as much as time allows me to see what others think and maybe learn a thing or two.
I have to admit, I check in 4-5 times a day. I like what Glenn has done with the site and I enjoy reading newer members' posts to get a feel for them and what they think.
I also like the subtle humor, always fun to read.
 
I didn'tremember why I came here, but the site did. My first ever post: "I live in the Gaithersburg, MD area and found this site about 2 weeks ago while researching gear to take on a guided 5 day trip on the Allagash River ..."

I stuck around and come back because the site has a very high information-to-drama ratio. In other words, lots of good info, very little drama.

And @mike I know I've got to finish up my YAER thread. I will be sure to throw you under the bus regarding those stressed-too-soon D-ring pads I had to redo. ;)
 
Which leads to a couple of questions:

How did you find or stumble upon Canoe Tripping?

I don't even remember what the first stumble was, but the sticky mud was the trip reports.

And, what keeps you coming back?

I keep coming back because this remains a remarkably polite community, especially considering the increasing diversity of contributors. Posts and discussions are usually offered without a lot of anger or grievance.

There is sub-text at times, but the quality of suggestions, recommendations and shared knowledge has largely remained top-notch, and contributors will go above and beyond to share what they know and have done successfully or, even better, admit having having failed at don’t-do-this.

One of the things I like about the culture of CT is that even though there are absurdly knowledgeable / experienced canoeists here, people are much more likely to express what they know and how they arrived at their opinions than to try to end a discussion by pulling rank.

There are probably more lessons to share in admitting eff-ups than in proclaiming untested successes. Those illustrative confessions are invaluable, and there aren’t many obviously untried or un-evaluated suggestions posted to Canoe Tripping.
...

Hmmm, I suppose I'm supposed to admit that one of the minimalist homebrew aluminum strip seat drops on my Traveler broke on Saturday. You can usually bend aluminum once and get away with it ...
 
I think it might have been Yellowcanoe who steered me over here after solotripping tanked. I was initially attracted by the diverse trip reports from all over the USA, something completely new to me, and very interesting. After a while, a real community developed, with an excess of humour that had me chocking on my coffee most mornings. Rippy's knife building thread, Heiki's axe-fat shaming thread, the unwrapping of the Plaid Prancer, the multiple cans of spam that magically showed up at the post office. What a great time!

Plus, several canoetrippers have showed up at my house, and even gone on trips with me, and shared the delights of the much demonized waters of life, Bud lite.

Then there was Paddlin Pitt with his epic canoe trip reports that had me waiting in anticipation every morning!

I have been a little quiet lately, but I plan to make my return to serious canoe tripping this summer, and hope to have a good trip report to follow. That's if this relentless winter ever ceases.

This is, without a doubt, the best canoe site on the interwebs, my thanks to everyone in the past and present who has kept this going!
 
I found this site with google search for canoe camping forums.

I enjoy the virtual campfire and canoe camping related discussions when not actually tripping.

My primary interest is in the equipment and procedures that enhance the canoe camping experience and problem solving.
 
I think it might have been Yellowcanoe who steered me over here after solotripping tanked. I was initially attracted by the diverse trip reports from all over the USA, something completely new to me, and very interesting. After a while, a real community developed, with an excess of humour that had me chocking on my coffee most mornings. Rippy's knife building thread, Heiki's axe-fat shaming thread, the unwrapping of the Plaid Prancer, the multiple cans of spam that magically showed up at the post office. What a great time!

Plus, several canoetrippers have showed up at my house, and even gone on trips with me, and shared the delights of the much demonized waters of life, Bud lite.

Then there was Paddlin Pitt with his epic canoe trip reports that had me waiting in anticipation every morning!

I have been a little quiet lately, but I plan to make my return to serious canoe tripping this summer, and hope to have a good trip report to follow. That's if this relentless winter ever ceases.

This is, without a doubt, the best canoe site on the interwebs, my thanks to everyone in the past and present who has kept this going!
I think you were merely frozen! Ice out soon for you?
 
I joined myccr in February of 2006. I liked that it offered lots of information, but I didn’t post very much. In the summer of 2018, I was doing an internet search for the Thelon River, and came across a posting on canoetripping.net. I clicked on it to read that some guy was seeking information about the cost of flights into the Thelon. I was very impressed with with the amount of very helpful information that people offered. I read a bit more, and concluded that this was the place to post my trip reports and images. I pretty much never looked back, until very recently.

I very much appreciated all the positive responses I received, both written and “likes.” In fact I became addicted to likes, and am now in second place overall, but memequay is only 39 likes behind me. I have no more trip reports, but am planning to return to the Barrens in the NWT this summer. I expect that by then mem will have passed me. Maybe I can regain second place with my report. Second place is all that I need, as I have no hope of catching Robin.
 
I have long been interested in canoeing (and everything else outdoors) so it was a natural process for me to dive into the site. I got involved near the end of Solo Tripping.

I enjoy most of the content on the site. I often wonder about the circumstances that allow so many of you to have spent so much time canoeing (teachers, independently wealthy, business owners?) and wish I had selected a different career.

I had a pretty good quiver of outdoor skills. Turns out I was back-ferrying for years. Just didn't know there was a name for it.

At this point in my life I am working to cross off a few bucket list items before I get to hear more bad things ("but if the cancer comes back a third time....") so I am champing at the bit. This is a motivator - not anything I feel sorry for myself about.

Since Mr. Cancer has allowed me some additional time on my hands where longer trips were not an option, I just decided to re-outfit myself. I have received a TON of very helpful information here. Starting with the helpful advice of CEW to purchase my canoes, right on through the gear list you folks have helped a great deal, and I thank you all. I have assembled a kit that I am thrilled with. You have helped with positioning myself in the canoe for more comfort as I age. Outfitting tips have proven to me that you actually can drill holes in a brand new Kevlar canoe and live through it.

Trip reports are outstanding. I love them all, but Mr. Pitt's had me burning the midnite oil like a kid with a magazine he's not supposed to have. I couldn't put the dang things down.

But it's more than that. There is an affinity for the people on this board that I do not share with any other board I frequent. I have never met any of you, but I know if I ask a question by the time I get home there will usually be a number of thoughtful responses that provide insight into whatever my current dilemma might be. How ingrained is this site in my life? I can mention the names of a bunch of people on this site and Chick will know exactly who I am speaking about. That has never occurred on ANY site I frequent.

So, once again I thank you all. A tremendous resource, the ability to laugh out loud, a great bunch of kind people.

A truly rare thing on the internet.
 
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